THE P
RTAL
A glad game not for wimps
Joanna Bogle unwraps the Biblical injunction to Rejoice !
have been accused of being a “ Pollyanna ” – always seeking
I something to be glad about . Remember the film ? 1960s , starring Hayley Mills . I watched it one half-term at the Astoria , Purley , on a family treat ( ice-creams at the interval ). I adored it .
Pollyanna has no particular reason to be glad . We meet her as a recently-orphaned child sent to stay with her only living relative , a rich but unfriendly greataunt . Pollyanna ’ s late father , a missionary , taught her that there was always something about which to be glad , and that there are 794 – or something – texts in the Bible that tell us to rejoice .
Pollyanna ’ s father invented the “ glad game ” in which you find something to be glad about in every situation . Thus , when a charity group sent Pollyanna some crutches , instead of the doll she had so badly wanted , she found she could be glad that … um … that she didn ’ t need to use them !
So she was glad that her aunt made her sleep in an attic – because the view was so beautiful . And so on . You get the idea . Nauseating , I am told . But that ’ s because you haven ’ t read the story . The point is that the glad game works . Through various adventures , all centred on the game , Pollyanna , among much else in the small town , unexpectedly finds a home for an orphan boy , a new project for a lonely recluse , and a new zest for life for a grouchy hypochondriac ... and , finally , through unusual circumstances , reconciles the Aunt with a once-spurned fiancé ( and is bridesmaid at the wedding ).
But – and here ’ s the point – she also endures a serious spinal injury through a fall , and her faith in the Glad Game seems to be tested when she learns she may never walk again .
So that Glad Game is not for wimps . And it only works on truth . You can ’ t be artificially glad , or glad because some one else is suffering instead of you , or glad because it makes you feel smug , or glad because we are doing it out of a dreary sense of obligation . Your gladness is a searching for the truth of things . And , because of this , it may bring fruits you had not expected and which are outside your own abilities or even your hopes .
February 2018 Page 4
Auntie
Joanna writes
Things can look bleak for Christians in modern Britain : horrible new Government plans for “ relationships education ” in schools , fears over our freedom to put the Christian case , endless promotion of propaganda denouncing the truth about marriage , sexual union , chastity , and human dignity , arguments within the Church … oh , you can add to the list . And don ’ t let ’ s start on obvious things like worries over peace in the world , and so on .
Being glad only about a small thing might seem stupid : but that misses the point . You are playing the game with love , because God calls us to rejoice .
The Ladies Ordinariate Group , LOGS , is not large , and gathers women from across South London for a range of events and activities . A few weeks back , we had our celebration dinner – planned , cooked and served in superb style by our youngest member , a recent graduate from London University , and attended by a good crowd of us around the long table glittering with candles . And this was the poem written to mark the occasion .
Remember how it started ? - Oh , it seems so long ago – That dreary bleak old vestry , and those things I brought to sew ? I ’ d though we might do Handcrafts , and although that seemed quite mad Well , later , “ Towards Advent ”, and one Handcrafts stall – not bad ! And then our meetings started , and the thing began to be A group of common purpose , friendship , prayer and unity . We used to meet in Croydon in the old St Mary ’ s crypt Where Jackie made us welcome , and while tea was poured and sipped There was cake , and talk and laughter – and wisdom , too we found From some inspiring speakers in that semi-underground . A talk from Father James on life a prison chaplain led And one on Our Lord ’ s passion , and the Cross , by Father Ed . And somehow as the time went by we found we that we could do A lot more than we thought we could – and , yes , enjoy it too ! A project for some schools was born , with cakes and talk and tea And flourished , thanks to Wilma ’ s cheerful hospitality !
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