The Elephant In The Room

Spot the puppet...

Monday saw us travelling to the Black Country for Open The Book training.

I have lost track of how many years it is since Open the Book was launched in our parish, and we began the weekly task of acting out Bible stories in local schools. I guess it must be about six years, as we are almost at the end of the second time through the three year cycle. In our team, only two of us remain from the original cohort. Thankfully others have come along to replace those who have moved on to do other things.

This was the first opportunity I have had to go on a training course, as in the past they have always happened on days when I am working. As this one was on my day off, I thought I better go. The venue for the training was only about half a mile, from where another year-long course we are doing, is based.  As a consequence, we feel that we are getting to know the Black Country!  Normally we travel through in the dark, so it was nice to see the place in the sunshine! I can now verify that Old Hill is just as steep as it appears in the dark!

Expectation - everyone will be highly organised, very capable, with excellent props.
Reality - they blundered through, just as we do, getting most of it right.

What did I get out of the course?  
A sense of something much bigger than six of us rolling up to school all bleary-eyed on a Wednesday morning and appearing from behind clothes airers. It made me question what else we should be doing, within both the schools we visit and the community in which they are based.  The leadership also shared their vision for possible developments.

What did I like best?
The resources in the prayer corner, which would be very useful in the after school club we offer in one of the local schools. I have already purchased a couple of items and have my eye on a few more...

One girl made an elephant out of playdough - which I christened 'The elephant in the room'...
Another suggestion was prayer paper aeroplanes - perfect potential for mayhem, in the name of prayer! Perfect!
Perhaps we should christen them 'Prayeroplanes'...

What did I like least?
Evaluations questions! Having said that they did make us think. At first, I thought that I had nothing to say, but as the conversation got going, I discovered to my surprise that I had plenty to contribute!

What surprised me?
It was a daytime course and most of the participants were quite mature in age - but not all!  Some regarded Open the Book as a project for the retired and seemed quite indignant at the thought that younger people might take part. Such ageism! In reality, I am the only member of my team who is not retired, but I do know people who successfully fit in Open the Book' in with their work commitments.

We now have a two-week break from Open the Book, as we are replaced with Mass on Ash Wednesday, and then it is half term.  When we return, it will be with renewed enthusiasm for bringing the stories to life.  I will be able to see beyond the crowns, swords and goblets and clothes airers, to the wider ministry.

But will I see an elephant?