Month: October 2026

A few days ago, a friend of mine died. We had known each other for thirty years but it would be wrong to say that we were close friends. However, I enjoyed his company whenever we met. He had an impish sense of humour, he did not take himself seriously and he knew how to tell a brilliant story; I always felt better for meeting him. I knew he was ill with a life-limiting condition; at the end, events moved quicker than I imagined they would but I am sure this was for the best. I am of course a vicar; whilst I cannot truthfully say that I bury people for a living, I do see a lot of death, so perhaps it might be expected I would be used to it. But I found myself grieving for my friend more deeply than I expected; neither experience nor faith can grief-proof you. I am actually glad of this; in the Old Testament, the prophet Ezekiel talks about the importance of having a heart of flesh, not of stone. Without that, we lose a precious part of our humanity. Grief, in proportion, is good.

Rev David Poyner

The Book of Genesis gives a mythical account of the origin of different languages. According to this, humanity originally spoke only a single language. The people decided to settle in just one place and built a city with a great tower, the Tower of Babel pointing heavenwards. However God was not pleased; he thought humanity was becoming too powerful. So he scattered the people on the earth and gave different languages so they would not understand each other. I thought of this story during a recent trip to Wales; on a boat with twelve other people, ten were native Welsh-speakers and so were chatting to each other in Welsh. Indeed, why not? I had chosen to visit a Welsh-speaking area and so this was no different from being in Italy and finding the people around me were speaking Italian. And yet, if I am honest, I did feel excluded; I wanted to share in their banter. I felt the curse of the Babel myth. But, I enjoy visiting Wales because of its culture; the handful of words I know allow me (sometimes) to translate the place names; on a good day to appreciate the rhythm of Welsh poetry even if I need an English translation to understand it. It is possible to read the Babel myth in a different light; that it was not good for humanity to settle in just one place and to speak in just one way as that would constrain our imaginations and, ultimately our potential. Languages evolve out of places and landscapes and enrich us. Perhaps the Babel myth ultimately is about a blessing, not a curse.

Rev David Poyner

Regular readers may recall that last week, a year after retiring, I returned to my former place of work for the retirement of a colleague. I enjoyed the event because it allowed me to meet up with my former colleagues. So often, the way we feel about work is determined not so much by the job itself but by the people who work alongside us. I have been fortunate that, for the most part, I have always got on well with the people I work with. It is that shared comradeship that keeps us all going when things become difficult; we support those around us just as they support us. One of Jesus’s most difficult parables is that of a dishonest steward. The senior steward, what today we might call the farm manager, learns he is about to be dismissed by his employer. He promptly goes round all the people who owe his employer money, reducing the amount they need to pay, so they in turn might help him when he loses his job. The employer finds out, but praises the man for his shrewdness. It has been suggested that at least in part, Jesus told this parable to show the importance of cultivating friends; human capital always wins over money in the bank.

Rev David Poyner

Today I am off to Aston University for a retirement party for a colleague I have known for over 30 years. I feel I am particularly well-placed to advise her, as I retired from the university almost exactly a year ago. At least, I retired from paid employment. I still continue to do my research; earlier this week I sent off a paper for publication about our latest findings. Once a year I lead a session for undergraduate pharmacists and nurses on the spiritual care of their patients. Then there is the work I do as a volunteer vicar for the church; I have not taken on any new responsibilities but I have more time to do this job to my satisfaction. I am also the conservation officer for the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club. In short, I work just as much as I did when I was a salaried employee of Aston University, it just that it is unpaid and more diverse. I do this because I enjoy it, I find it fulfilling and the alternative seems unthinkable. The Judaeo-Christian tradition has always recognised the value of work; in the creation poems in Genesis, the authors make it clear that humanity should work to tend the earth. In the New Testament, St Paul encouraged all Christians to find employment so that they did not become burdens on others. Thus there are both spiritual and economic reasons for us to work. Unfortunately not all work is fulfilling, either spiritually/mentally or financially and it is right to be concerned about this. But the aspiration must be that of the poet and hymn writer, George Herbert, who famously wrote “Teach me my God and King, in all things thee to see; that what I do in anything, I do it as for thee”.

Rev David Poyner

A few weeks ago, I had a couple of uneasy encounters with people who were disillusioned with church. The incidents were nothing to do with the local church and nothing I had any influence over. I simply had to listen as they vented their frustration. I tried to explain where I could, but mainly I was just silent as they spoke; there didn’t seem to be very much I could say. Quite possibly I did not do a very good job but I have had similar experiences before. There are times in life when all you can do is listen and take the flak from people who may well have legitimate concerns about things that are not directly your fault. Christianity has a lot to say about love and being a good neighbour. Sometimes that means listening and absorbing what may be legitimate anger and trying, as best we, returning it not with self-defence or justification but, as best as we are able, empathy.

Rev David Poyner