The Meeting at the Centre

Patricia Leaf runs a self help group at the St Mary Magdalene centre every Wednesday night. The centre used to be a primary school, with a large gym-style hall historically used for PE lessons, assemblies and school clubs. This hall, with a light- brown laminate floor and floor to ceiling length panels of glazing, is now the venue for the self-help group. It also has staging boxes at one end, in front of a raised up enclosure with a crucifix which overlooks. Most weeks, a circle of between 20 and 30 seats is set out for centre clients with varied and complex illnesses and needs.

Simon and Davy once attended this meeting. They were often in the same meeting, during their time at the centre. When Davy’s mental health improved, he had a spiritual awakening and his understanding of a God was the power emanating from this particular group. Hence the phrase ‘Group Of Dysfunctionals’.

When Simon first attended this group, his idea of God was very much in relation to the Catholic Trinity as previously described. Therefore, because of his own process of discernment and belief system based on the Catholic tradition, he left the group for a couple of months after the first two meetings. However, at this stage his soul was cluttered. Also his mind was spinning and his anxiety either rooted him to the pit of his duvet blankets or kept him wide awake before the television screen. One night he was found in Salestown town centre having overdosed on pain killers. That was at the worst of his depression, and is not a rare occurrence in British society.

Simon had to admit that he needed the meeting. Also that he had found his place as a ‘dysfunctional’ person himself. Although he knew the word ‘dysfunctional’ detracted from each member’s true identity. That is identity as God’s children. ‘Dysfunctional’, and other similar terms, do not forgive the people that this label is given to. However, in groups such as this it can allow for a profound sense of fellowship and joy which is an essential part of the recovery of members. Eventually, this particular group didn’t coin the term ‘dysfunctional’ after its first suggestion. Members of the group included Patricia Leaf, Jake Joyman, Father Oakes and John Oakes. Father Oakes would often give one-to-one advice to individual members.

Davy was considered by the group as the person who needed the meeting the most. On one cold November Wednesday night, the meeting started as usual.

‘Welcome to our Wednesday night meeting of Support for Friends in the Community’, said Patricia to a relatively small group which included most of the regulars that attended. ‘As there are no new members tonight, I’m happy to proceed to the reflection before we can share about what has happened this week. I understand that Father Oakes has the reflection prepared, so I’m happy to hand over!’

‘Thanks Patricia!’ replied the priest, who was relatively early into his vocation at the time. He had travelled over from Ireland, which is reflected in a very broad accent. ‘I’ve found a really good poem. I hope that it rings true…’

Then, just before he was about to start, the discussion was suddenly halted. The door, in the corner right of the staged area on entry, was slammed open before Davy Joyman ran through to his seat. Then, just before taking his seat, he quickly turned around to go back and shut the door. He was panicked. He looked dazed. When he walked, he seemed to meander from side to side. Then when he sat down, the group noticed huge bags under his eyes. He had spent the previous night on the street. His clothes looked grubby.

‘You’re in the right place Davy!’ Father Oakes said in a reassuring tone and a warm smile on his face ‘We all need to help our new member. After all, we all remember why we are here as well as how we felt at our first meeting. Davy, this is your opportunity to just let go. Know also, that whatever you are going through, you are unconditionally loved. Nothing can change that. This meeting has changed the lives of young men, such as Simon, Jake and John. It might not seem like that for you now, but that’s what this programme promises. Nobody here judges you. No-one, who attends, regularly, fails to recover. Think of the Good Samaritan, or just the best friend you have never had. There are a small team of them here. Call them what you will. Members of a football team if you like!’

Father Oakes had seen Davy, on the street, the previous day. Like the Good Samaritan, or the friend he never had. He had written the details of the meeting on a card for Davy. Davy had left the centre having been a client there for a month. He had relapsed, and it was the meeting that ultimately was to reintroduce him to society. Indeed, seeing a familiar face in Patricia was very helpful on his return. In return, she was delighted to see him. It was Davy’s second chance, and she and Father Oakes were not the people to deny him that.

This is the poem which Father Oakes read out:

My thoughts are a shape,

before the dissipation of my words.

My works do not reach the outer limits of my soul.

So do large structures fall down, and green grass becomes softly grazed.

The house is empty.

This soul, which shines as flame behind glass, has been manufactured.

Its light wavers, before the flood.

My head is a sphere within an egg, or an autumnal summer.

I consider everything I try to be loveless.

Kind words are not enough, from this upshot of the rind.

This seed trickles down the bumpy cobbles, all engulfed.

At least those others are not perturbed by a warm smile.

They used to be, because the smile once sealed a broken heart.

Our thoughts were like the wispy October haze.

The pane of warped glass was within the rotting frame.

No longer could we connect, and love had been lost behind numbers and spans.

Mist clouded the window, and it could never be fully cleared.

Mine is not a charitable mind.

My bright gaze is tired, and I do not see through the pane to the other world.

My love is a reflection, and doesn’t unlock your heart.

Mist clouds the surface of the window, and you haven’t scratched it yet.

The discussion, about this poem, lasted until the centre had to be closed by the caretaker and security staff. The group thought that trust is big element of this poem. Human beings must trust others and, even if they consider their works loveless, must work for each other anyway. They may feel like a seed trickling down the winding river, without anywhere to root itself to. Yet they must still trickle down, and somehow stay afloat. For some, just doing this is a huge challenge. How do ordinary people do this with what they face each and every day? They may be victims of abuse, discrimination or addiction. If none of these, there are so many other concerns that come from living in a confusing secular world. Fear of that we are told to fear. The pain attached with hope as well as despair. Even still fear of failure, or a perception of actual failure which brings us to realise love. Love of God and love of neighbour.

How can they stay afloat? The tall structures keep rising, and there is not enough green grass to graze. Further to that, when the tall structures fall down, the dust prevents the light from reaching the grass. It enshrouds the leaves on the trees, most of which replace the rotting frames.

A soul, or a spirit, is no hair width. A charitable mind hardly contributes, yet at the same time has the potential to calm storms and move mountains. The grey matter, which it consists of, does not equate to five loaves or two fishes. Yet, in the modern world, it has so many resources that Jesus’ and His disciples didn’t have. It has resources in people, places, talents and technology as well as that it has inherently.

The spark, the bright light, within man might be less than the significance of a mustard seed. All it can do is place itself in the presence of God, and offer itself to Him. Then it can make small changes. Small changes can have a massive impact, like the ripples in the flood which then exponentially reach out.

God can heal the upshot, of the rind, to have a heart of love. This heart is happy in the presence of God by itself. There is nothing more it needs than this. Although it is the loving interchange with others that brings it to this grace, once the grace is received, it can then be the person that it saw in other people during its recovery.

Many believe that happiness has a connection to a more simple life. A simple life could imply one lived more sustainably. Therefore a philosophical strategy to deal with climate change, such as ‘Recycle, Revive and Relate’, can almost be part of a person’s healing. The goodness, within it, can make a happy heart still in the presence of God. It needn’t detract from the covenant relationship, but be part of it. People, who adopt such a philosophy, have a balance of their lifestyles, and value love over ‘the numbers and spans’ or material wealth. They needn’t measure their love by any worldly means. Yes they are by themselves, a lot of the time, in the presence of a loving God. However, the time spent with others is still a time they consider precious. They consider these times those they cherish rather than they demand. For example, in this grateful and peaceful state of mind, they need not regularly travel very far to have this time with those they love.

Davy travelled to the centre once a week. When he worked on ‘Recycle, Revive and Relate’, he earned enough to go on holiday once a year and most of the time it was to somewhere in this country. He had found the joy of God in the moment. He also became much more frugal with regards food, including fast food and confectionary. He also spent less money on aspects of his life such as digital entertainment. He preferred reading books by himself, and playing board games with relatives that he was once estranged from.

Taking the example of Simon Richer, who was also not unlike a father figure at the time, Davy developed an interest in looking through the pane of glass to the other world. He had an interest in the lives of those he then realised he loved dearly. His once estranged mother is to name but one. Finally, he realised that there is little cost, in terms of personal finance or to the environment, involved in spending two hours every weekend with his team mates playing for Maybury third team. He lived in a more frugal, sane and eco-friendly way without really making any changes with difficulty involved.

Davy’s occupation, on the borough wide scheme, took up most of his time. This scheme involved the establishment of business relationships between many organizations with a profoundly green agenda. Davy’s job mainly involved the planting of new trees, and plants, in more urban parts. However, he would on occasion move to the countryside and work on rural conservation projects for a different firm.

His work was therefore not only tree planting, but also reclamation of old materials and de-littering. Also he engaged with vital work to protect endangered species, such as bees. Bees are pollinators that allow plants to fruit, set seed and breed. They also play a big role in agriculture, as James Smalling would certainly appreciate from his time in India. Finally, the work they do provides food and habitat for a range of other creatures. The health of our bees and other pollinators is crucial for the health of our natural ecosystems. The importance of biodiversity was something that James upheld in his farming career back in the United Kingdom. On a philosophical level, perhaps the work of species such as bees infiltrates the natural world. This is not unlike the silent creeping of light, from the outside of the soul that reclaims the kingdom of God within.

Bees are associated with luscious gardens, such as in the orient, laden with flowers that blossom with radiant colour. They are also seen as friendly creatures, as opposed to wasps, but also harmless. Flies are harmless also, but are commonly associated with dirt and decay. However, they too are pollinators as well as a means of the decomposition of organic matter in nature such as on landfill sites. Research into a means to decompose inorganic matter such as plastic is critical right now, because of the enormity of the problem. The concept of a recycling centre that can deal with, a cumbersome and varied mixture of, waste has been developed. In Britain a throw-away culture is still very concerning. Plastic takes 450 years to decompose via natural ultraviolet light. However, it is also causing a huge problem in our oceans as it intrudes into habitats and is ingested by sea life.

Therefore, the amount of plastic produced by humans is causing an imbalance, an example of that which must be addressed relative to the climate crisis. Addressing our individual consumerism is essential. This includes developing a relationship with nature, similar to that of St Francis of Assisi. He was someone who became ‘one’ with God’s creation, the birds and plants but also the flies and that which he knew were still essential. This story is about what human beings can do to reflect God’s benevolence, which can be seen still in unlikely aspects of nature and society. It can be seen in nature and organisms associated with the cycle of decay, death and rebirth. Perhaps dealing with what is artificial must continue to be tailored towards this.

Benevolence can be seen in Davy Joyman, in changing from a secular mindset to one which imitates a 13th century saint. Davy developed a philosophy for his whole life, from the work he carried out. At home he would always recycle and conserve energy, from consumer appliances, as well as water. The other aspects, such as the short trip to play football in the suburban countryside, were enjoyed as a balance. He became less interested in his mobile phone and games console. However, he still enjoys these, as well as watching the television, so long as it is in moderation. By living more sustainably, although he didn’t realise it at first, Davy also fulfilled the golden rule of ethics. This is also how Jesus summed up the law of the Old Testament which is to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’. This is because of the knock on effect that reducing a carbon footprint has on the developing parts of the world.

Davy made the all the small changes that he could. Britain is making much larger changes, outside the remit of the individual. Like the bees, the individual is not aware of the impact of these changes. These include turning to green sources of energy, such as wind and solar power, and significant reduction in the use of fossil fuels. However, although Davy’s changes are comparatively small, he still upholds the changes happening on a global and national scale. He became an ambassador, by his example as well as his witness to the value of such changes. The seed, once trickling down the bumpy cobbles, has found root in fertile ground. The light, and water, then crept in from the outside for its growth.

Once the seed had found root, the tree then became an ecosystem. The world around him, including other people of which some were on very similar journeys, became a better place. All it takes is a mustard seed, or a spark within an individual. A voice of reason, derived from a Christian message such as in ‘Recycle, Revive and Relate’. What if this could be replicated? What if a message such as this, could be part of the foundation of a modern human being? What if it was replicated to enough human beings, to combat that which is currently at stake? Davy became a better human being, whilst upholding the message of Pope Francis that:

‘There can be no renewal of our relationship with nature, without a renewal of humanity itself.’