Just be who you are
When I was a student, which was far too many years ago now to quite remember, I turned up in trepidation at the university student ringing society. It was a new city and I wanted to make some new friends. I had come from a small village down south and the ringing was pretty impressive for a village band. We rang the basic surprise methods and were regarded in the district as a proficient band, so I thought I would be able to fit in well and manage to ring most things thrown at me by the university band. I still remember to this day the ringing master asking what I rang to which I replied with the confidence and nonchalance of an 18-year-old, “Oh most things.” At that point to my horror the ringing master declared “Catch hold for eight-spliced”. It was at that point than rather than admit, what I meant by “most things” was Cambridge and possibly Yorkshire at a pinch, that I just took the rope handed to me and elected to just wing it which was fine for the first two leads but then the conductor shouted “Bristol” and all I could manage was a gasp and whimper before it became obvious I had not a clue what I was doing.
Pretending to be someone we are not is a dangerous occupation. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” My father always used to say that life is about growing into your own skin, don’t try and be someone you’re not. Be at peace with who you are. One of my favourite Psalms in the bible is Ps 139. I often use it when I’m praying with folks at the end of their life. The words remind me and us all that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made, God knows all about us from the beginning of time and he still loves us warts and all. It reminds us that whatever we think of ourselves, however inadequate we think we are, God thinks we are wonderful. We don’t need to prove anything to him or the world. We don’t need to pretend we are someone we are not. So, maybe this week be encouraged to just be who you are and please remember when you turn up to a practice in a new tower don’t ever say when asked, “I ring most things.” It will probably end badly.
Simon White