Get a New One

Our six-year-old printer has been misbehaving. Some days it’s been unwilling to work. Last week it printed half a page of one or two documents and then gave up. I went to Currys.

Mark, a helpful young man, said that six was a good age for a computer. We discussed the options. His advice: ‘Get a new one!’ He sold me one – that’s now installed and working.

Last week’s local paper paid glowing tributes to James ‘Huggy’ Hutchinson. His brain tumour was diagnosed in 2018; he died in August, aged just 49… Of his footballing success: ‘…the dominant centre half had shone during a trophy-laden football playing career…’ Friends tributes: “Where do I even start talking about this amazing man who has touched so many hearts…’

I know his dad, Chris. In recent months he’s talked with great sadness about his son’s terminal diagnosis, his daughter-in-law and grandsons, James’ death… Chris and the family can’t get another ‘James’.

Yesterday’s news told of Jane Blake of Great Yarmouth, meeting Tim Head of Corby in Northamptonshire for the very first time.

Mrs Blake’s son Kitt had died in April 2020, aged 30. The family agreed to allow his organs to be donated. Mr Head benefitted from the family’s tough, generous decision. Tim Head needed a new heart. He was able to get a new one – Kitt’s.

Thus, when Jane Blake met Tim Head, it was an emotional meeting…

This morning I read about Peter, the Jew, who thought that the true God only dealt with Jewish people. Through a strange dream involving sheets and animals and a subsequent meeting with the Roman Captain Cornelius, Peter learnt that although he had a faith, he had to get a new one – that included those he’d previously excluded.

Fifty years ago I questioned whether those whose convictions and beliefs differed from mine were Christians. Over the years I’ve seen exclusive barriers in my faith come down. I’ve seen my faith growing, developing, evolving into a new one…