|
Jack Finch told me some rum stories. This is one of his best. Just after the Second World War Muvvies Wheeler acquired a second hand car that he used to earn himself a bob or two. He had this in mind as he attempted to get a car full to go to Culford fete on Saturday. When he approached Jack Finch and George Ambrose he had got three passengers and hoped to get one more but they didn't want to go and, as was the way in Suffolk villages, suggested he try Mrs Gerry Boreham. So off went Muvvies to proposition Mrs Gerry Boreham. He returned shaking his head and looking very confused.
"How d'ya get on, Muvvies," asked Jack. "I dont rightly know," replied Muvvies. "When I asked her if she would like to go to Culford fete she said, 'If I say I shall I shan't. If I say I shan't I shall. So I shan't say nothing about it.' What have I to do with that?" After shaking with laughter for about five minutes George Ambrose managed to say, "I reckon yu got yar load, Muvvies." I think this must have been an attempt to lead Muvvies further astray because, of course, he had not. Mrs Gerry Boreham's response is absolutely classic for a Suffolk village women of 60 years ago. She didn't want to go to Culford fete but she didn't want to tell Muvvies that. She thought it would be better to confuse him and, if possible, put him in the wrong. I have to say it didn't take much to confuse Muvvies. Mrs Gerry Boreham was really quite put out about being asked to make a decision. Jesus invites men and women, boys and girls, to follow him. Many won't say, "Yes," and many won't say, "No." Their reply is like that of Mrs Gerry Boreham, "I shan't say nothing about it." People get angry about being pressed for a decision. They would like to tell God's Spirit to go away and stop bothering them. Instead those who are being challenged by God's Word are non-commital. God is not confused. He knows that a refusal to give an answer is the coward's way of saying, "No."
|