A few years ago, I had the privilege of helping take a group of 21 Year Six pupils from All Saints Primary School around All Saints Church.
We demonstrated how the bells worked and were rung, we showed them the clock mechanism, and took them onto the roof of the Bell Tower.
The children were impeccably behaved and were a credit to their teachers and the school.
But what struck me as I talked to the children on the roof was their excitement at being up so high, and enthusiasm in sharing the moment with their friends.
Some of the children were nervous at first, but all of them bravely ventured out onto the roof.
We identified St Crispin’s School, and several talked enthusiastically about going there in the Summer.
We talked about going on holidays and one young girl who had never been on a plane hoped that she would meet a ‘rich’ boyfriend who would one day take her on holiday.
All the children were so full of the moment that it was a joy to see.
Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
As I came away from the church, I was struck by how these children were living for the moment and enjoying the carefree clarity and enthusiasm of youth.
As they shared their plans and hopes for the future uncluttered by any negative thoughts of how they would achieve these ambitions I could see exactly what Jesus was referring to.
In that short period of time, the adults in our group joined in the untroubled enjoyment and excitement of the children and for a moment we all shared a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven.
John Boylan, authorised lay preacher at All Saints Church, Wokingham, writing on behalf of Churches Together in Wokingham
