Did you see the torch?

 Standing in the crowd by the road side the excitement in the air was palpable. Children were sat on their parents shoulders waving inflatables in the air and cheering.

 ‘I can see the torch!’

‘No.. it’s just the flashing lights of police cars and ambulances.’

 ‘It’s coming its coming’

And we waited and waited.

We cheered the police and Exeter bus that had somehow got itself in the middle of the relay.

We cheered families we knew who walked along the middle of the road, everyone got a cheer apart from the parking enforcement vehicle- whose driver took the ‘boos’ from the crowd with good grace and humour.

The rumours kicked in….

‘They’ve changed the route’

‘Why didn’t anyone tell us? ‘

‘Who’s organising this thing?’

‘The busses can’t turn around’

‘The torch isn’t coming after all’

‘It’s okay they’re just taking a break’

And still we waited & waited & waited until the moment came: and the procession re started..

Busses with music and dancers

Police cars

Olympic runners in grey shorts and tops

And finally in the middle – one runner in a white a gold tracksuit – carrying the Olympic Torch.

She ran past smiling and waving and then she was gone, the torch had passed through Torquay.

We milled around for a few more minutes,some rushed off for Olympic Torch tea parties – another chance to see the flame  and the rest of us wandered home,  we’d seen the flame for ourselves – we’d been part of something bigger than ourselves, we’d been part of history  for that brief period of time on Sunday 20^th May, but more important than history, we’d been…..  ‘community’

That was the point to me, being part of something big, something special, and something to remember:  it was about being together.  Some people chose not to see the relay or watch it on TV or the internet.  You can imagine the conversations years in the future.

‘Grandma what were you doing when the Olympic Torch went through Torquay?’

‘I was sat at home watching it on my computer’

Or  even, ‘I thought it was a bit of a waste of time actually so I just stayed home’

In my line of work I come across so many people who have the same attitude to church services and meetings.

‘I am a Christian, but I don’t go to church anymore’

‘Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian’ … True, but it does help your faith mature, grow and develop.

‘I prefer to stay at home and watch the God channel’  - Hard to believe but people do say this.

And so they miss out on being something bigger than themselves, or the sense of belonging, being together, the big occasion, but most importantly being community.  Christian life is best lived in community, that’s where we learn from each other, encourage and support each other, question, learn and grow.   This is where we help those that need help, cry with those who are going through a hard time and celebrate with the celebrators.

And it’s very very hard to do this sat at home on your own by the computer or the TV.

Don’t stay at home as a distant, passive slightly critical observer.

Come and join the crowd.