Wishbones

When we were children Mum always cooked a ‘Sunday Roast’ – beef, lamb, pork… Occasionally, when it was chicken, we would ask Mum for ‘the wishbone’.

We wanted to pull the wishbone, to break the bone and get the bigger piece; we knew that the one with the bigger piece could make a wish that would come true. It was a bit of a joke… but perhaps it would work.

Google says the furcula (Latin for “little fork”) or wishbone is a forked bone found in most birds; it’s formed by the fusion of the two clavicles. Its primary function is to strengthen the thoracic skeleton to withstand the rigours of flight.

Musing on faith… like a wishbone… For some it’s a bit of a joke, others believe it can make their wishes come true. It’s primary function, though is to give strength; some would say it enables them to fly.

Yesterday our car went to Andy’s garage for its annual service and MOT test. At lunch time the lovely Andrea phoned me from the garage. ‘Your wishbones need replacing. They’ll cost £47.62 each.’

I had to google what do wishbones do on a car; my knowledge of car mechanics is similar to my knowledge of chicken anatomy.

Apparently the wishbone is a component in a vehicle’s suspension system. It’s typically a U-shaped metal rod that helps absorb shocks from the road, by allowing the wheel to move up and down whilst remaining stable, enabling each wheel to move independently.

Musing on faith… like a wishbone… Sometimes during lent we consider the cost –‘the price of sacrifice’… Many would speak of the stability that faith brings, absorbing the shocks of life, enabling independent movement.

Both in chicken anatomy and car mechanics the wishbone may appear small and insignificant, but neither can function satisfactorily without it.

My prayer today is for strength-giving, flight-enabling, stability-providing, shock-absorbing, small-but-vital wishbone-like faith.