Our schools close at this time of year for the annual summer break. I’ve celebrated end of year Masses at Corpus Christi over the past two weeks. As I watch children and young people move on, I’ve been particularly aware this year of how we are never finished on our way through life. We are always, as I said at Christ the King, “works in progress”.

The children have a natural awareness of this as they slowly grow, change shoe sizes, need bigger clothes, change schools and so on. They seemed a little more surprised to realise that it’s the same for grown-ups. Admittedly this has been a little clearer this year in our schools as Christ the King is saying goodbye to Headteacher Patrick Affley and his family, and Corpus Christi has bid farewell to acting Headteacher Mr David Cushion and twelve
other teaching staff.

But I think it’s something that we all need to remember – that we are all works in progress. This is a consoling thought. When we mess up, feel inadequate or fail, we can step back, see the bigger picture, and move on. It’s also a humbling thought, and we need to hear that, too, from time to time. That day when we think we have got it made, that we have really arrived, achieved our goals and reached our targets, is probably the day before we fall apart…

I think the Old Testament image of the potter and the clay captures this very well. When the clay wobbles or even collapses, the potter simply starts again, not discarding the clay but learning how to do it better. Even if the clay flies right off the turntable, the experienced hand of the potter will lift it back onto the wheel of life so that a new start can be made.

So let us be patient with one another. That pesky person, that annoying neighbour or colleague, that awkward parishioner, is a work in progress. And so are you.

Fr Matthew