Unreservedly All Good

Last night we watched Ghostbusters performed by Fabba, our local theatre company for adults with learning disabilities. There were ghosts, the paranormal and Halloween-type characters… acting, singing and dancing… a tenuous plot involving Lowestoft and Blythburgh…

If there’s somethin’ strange in the neighbourhood
Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!

It was enthusiastic, inclusive and joyful. Adults who would be dismissed by many, were proud to be on the stage performing the show that they’d been rehearsing for months. Teachers and staff had prepared them with skill, patience and compassion. Friends and family formed an appreciative audience who truly recognised their achievements. It was unreservedly all good.

Sadly life isn’t always unreservedly all good.

Yesterday I was reminded of the 1964 song ‘What did you learn in school today’. In a gentle Tom Paxton way we’re challenged to question things that we are told are good and right. It’s a parent-child conversation:

What did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?

I learned our government must be strong
It’s always right and never wrong
Our leaders are the finest men
And we elect them again and again.

In our world, communities, churches and families we can see so much that isn’t unreservedly all good.

Our pond’s been leaking. The old liner needed replacing. I emptied it, rescued frogs, newts and other wild-life, removed it and yesterday put a new one in place. Today I’ll start filling it.

This morning I walked beside the sea. Further along the coast the sea’s eroding cliffs and destroying homes. I can’t change the power of the sea… but I can look after the life in my little pond.

A friend’s teenage daughter said to her, ‘If you don’t want to do the solution don’t complain about the problem.’  She’s right.

Much in our world I can’t do much to change… international wars, national problems… but I can change my little world, my little pond, to be part of the solution, aiming towards the unreservedly all good.