Page 34 - LOTN Spring Issue 49 2022

FAITH AND CULTURE

On a Wing and a Prayer

with

Father Peter Barry

ome time ago I was driving to a funeral when
I saw a shape on the road that looked like a
rounded stone. I got out of the car to move it to
Sthe side, but noticed a slight movement. It was a
tortoise, in the middle of nowhere. I took it home and it
stayed with me for nearly three years. The local children
called it Flipper, and like every other tortoise it slept
throughout the winter months.
I used to take Flipper into the four local primary schools,
and the children would count the circles of the shell to
guess its age. We agreed it was around thirty years old. And
they would always ask what was the white line on its back.
The white line was actually Polyfilla. In the past it seems that
Flipper had suffered an injury, and the shell had split open. Flipper finds a good Samaritan to give her a new home
Some previous owner had done a little minor surgery and
had papered over the crack with white Polyfilla. This would heads. What might God call them to do? There were many
prevent any bacteria or infection from entering the body. answers: A doctor, teacher; someone mentioned taxi-driver,
I found that the tortoise was a good entry point to and explained we needed to get from A to B. Someone
illustrate the story of the good Samaritan. How many mentioned a shopkeeper and asked what he would sell, a
cars or pedestrians, I would ask the school children, had little boy mentioned sweeties. With gentle persuasion, he
passed by before I stopped. Would you grow up to be admitted, he might also trade in fruit and vegetables!
good Samaritans. Maybe you would be happy instead The God of Surprises, however, might call us to something
with lots of money, sitting by yourself, counting every quite different! Here’s a painting of Saint Andrew, at the very
penny. Without exception the children would shake their moment when God calls him. The artist is Andre Durant,
and the Calling of St Andrew is set within a contemporary
background. The Sea of Galilee is replaced by a country
scene and the little church looks a bit like the parish church
at Stratherrick. Andrew looks astonished at the voice of
Jesus, inviting him to follow. He appears to hold his hand
to his chest in disbelief. He shows his skills as a fisherman
by the two hefty rainbow trout he has caught, but to fish
for people instead? Light comes pouring from the same
direction as the voice, so there is nothing to fear.
The consent of Andrew takes him from Palestine to
Asia Minor, through Hungary, Russia, Poland and Greece,
bringing the message of God’s love, light and healing.
This narrative today was set in motion by a poor innocent
creature, Flipper, wounded and waiting and looking for a
home.
Andre Durant's, The Calling of St Andrew

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