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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE January 2022 7
Faith

Calder`s Corner.... often regarded as a health hazard. followed in which, despite his Pippin’s Paws for Thought
In fact, in the New Testament the obvious dependence upon the
What’s on your Apostle Paul urged one young woman’s generosity, Jesus insisted
that he could supply her with
disciple to avoid water for a time
and drink wine for his stomach`s
water - a special type of water. But
bucket list? sake; not for intoxication but the scornful woman `pushed back`,
reminding Jesus that she possessed
medication.
a water-pot whereas he had no
Of course, water is basic to all
Hello! drinks. You might well call it the container to draw water with, even
`elixir of life` because although
for himself, let alone offering to
Let us ring in the new year we can go without food for a few provide for her!
with….a cuppa! “A cuppa!” you weeks before expiring, we can But, this woman was missing the
say. “Hmm, surely, we can do bet- exist without water for only a few point! As was often the case when
ter than that?” Well, if it was good days. That should really come as he taught, Jesus was using symbol-
enough for Keith it is good enough no surprise, considering that 80% ism to point to spiritual blessing;
for me. Who, on earth, is Keith? of the human brain is composed of he was not directing her to look
O.K. Let me explain. Many moons water! down the well but to look up to
ago Keith, a church minister, was I never cease to be amazed at the heaven! “Everyone who drinks
a work colleague who would never intricacy of the human body. Not this water will be thirsty again, but Dear All,
pass up the chance of a cup of tea. least, because our bodies can actu- whoever drinks the water I give Happy New Year! There are lots
He was a `tea-addict` – an `old ally talk to us: using pain, discom- them will never thirst. Indeed, the of things I get excited about when
soak` who seemed to be, almost fort, or unusual sensations to gain water I give will become in them thinking about the endless possi-
permanently, curling his fingers our attention. For instance, if we a spring of water welling up to bilities a New Year may bring (ob-
around a mug of that sacred, listen carefully enough, we receive eternal life.” viously the hope of Jesus coming
brown liquid. A close friend warning when we need to rest, to King Solomon, noted for his back is my number one hope – af-
of his once proudly exclaimed, eat and to drink. With the latter, wisdom, intelligence and insight, ter all I am proud to be a Christian)
“When Keith dies, a post mortem we have a `thirst mechanism` in was probably the greatest and and another of my favourites has
might find `tea bags` lodged in his place to warn us when our bodies most illustrious king to ever be to be snow. Yes, I love it, the more
kidneys!” Now, most readers will need to take in more liquid. The enthroned. Yet, strangely, while the better; jumping into it, and my
have little inclination to prove or `thirst-sensation` diminishes with accessing endless enjoyment, he feet sinking down, going numb as
disprove the biological possibility age, but most of us can still look still had a great spiritual thirst that they do. It was so funny last year,
of that claim, so we shall quickly back on those hot, summer days, could not be satisfied. Finally, in when there was lots of snow, I hid
move on. Suffice to say that Keith when we rushed home from school the throes of old age, and hav- under a snowy bush and jumped
was definitely keeping up his with a raging thirst and thrust our ing played `fast and loose` with out on Hissy Missy – she hated couldn’t tell her if she was getting
`liquid intake`. heads under a tap to gulp down sacred things, Solomon is a very it and the snow came tumbling ‘colder’ or ‘warmer’ as she ruled
The science of human health is that clear, life-giving liquid. disillusioned man. “Meaningless! down off the bush onto her fluffy out every room as the location of
well advanced these days, with Historically, in dry climates, wells Meaningless!” He cries, “Utterly fur. It did make me laugh. If only the noise. What felt like hours
hydration very much to the fore. are dug to collect water from deep meaningless! Everything is mean- I could make snowballs to throw at for Missy was actually just a few
For many years we were exhort- underground and conserve the ingless!” her too. minutes until my guardian opened
ed, by numerous health gurus, to sparse rainfall. Over in Samaria, in What a sad epitaph for such the door and Missy came trotting
drink several litres of water every Bible days, a famous `well`, linked a spectacular monarch. Royal out, heading straight for the food
day, just pure water! That narrow, to the patriarch Jacob, received privilege had allowed him to bowls in the kitchen. “Greedy
unbending rule was eventually its most illustrious visitor ever! drink deeply from every `well` of Missy” I thought.
relaxed, and now any beverage Jesus appeared and sat by it, just life: fame, fortune, adventure and Missy’s mishap
counts toward the daily intake, as a Samaritan woman approached pleasure. Yet, while reflecting on Last week Missy followed our tall
even the common-place `cuppa to fill her water pot. The woman his chequered experience at life`s guardian into the little cupboard
tea`. was quite surprised when Jesus end, they all appeared to be `wells under the stairs, when he was Following footprints
In Bible times, wine was the `in asked for a drink, because cul- without water`. His real problem getting his old boots out, but he
drink` - less a luxury, more a tural differences meant that Jews was that he neglected the well, the didn’t see her and shut the door But back to the snow, I love
necessity! There was no `on tap`, and Samaritans did not normally “Well of Salvation” - it wasn`t on while she was exploring under the walking to church down the crisp
treated water, as we enjoy today. communicate. his `bucket` list! little table. Not only didn’t he see snowy drive then exploring the
Water, for drinking purposes, was An amazing exchange of words Ken Calder her, but he didn’t hear her pitiful churchyard, where the snow has
meows either. Now I could have drifted against a headstone, it
Priest moves to assist in new sat by the cupboard door, alerting can be deep and crisp and even
but also it can be quite deep for
my guardians to Missy’s distress,
parishes in Derby Diocese but it was time for my catnap, this little cat, and a bit hard to
see where I’m going when it’s
so that’s what I did and went off
to a comfy sofa, only to find my so deep, but still great fun, as a
I follow my guardian, treading
On Remembrance Sunday the noon tea that followed. other human guardian was already boldly into where the snow was
congregation gathered for an Before moving to Sandiacre Fr. sat in my favourite spot in the dinted, from the footprints his big
afternoon service in St.Giles’ Ken had been curate at Holy Trin- sunshine, having her breakfast. old boots have made in the crisp
Well as much as I tried to distract
Church to say goodbye to Fr Ken ity Church in Ilkeston whilst he her with loud purring, she heard snow… now that reminds me of
Johnson and Janet after 21 years was still teaching in Nottingham. the soft mews, but didn’t know one of my favourite Christmas
ministering in Sandiacre. Fr. Ken has now been licensed to where they were coming from, so carols… but which one, can you
Members of the Methodist Church the parishes of Somercotes, Alfre- as she looked from room to room, guess?
who were involved in Messy ton, Riddings and Ironville by the I followed her thinking it was a Happy New Year everyone – from
Church over the years joined in Bishop of Repton. great game of hide and seek, but I Pips the tabby cat
and everyone enjoyed the after-

An Introduction to Catholic We will be exploring all aspects of faith such as: NURSING HOME VISIT
Revd Christine French and curate
Christianity Is there a God? Who is Jesus? What do Catholics Revd Fr Julius Anozie were able
believe and why? What is the Church? How do we
to visit Oliver House Nursing
Interested in the Catholic Church? - Our Lady and pray? How do we know what is right and wrong? Home for the first time in 20
St Thomas Catholic Church, Ilkeston is running an and there will be plenty of time for questions. months since the start of the Coro-
introduction to Catholic Christianity for adults. We meet every first Saturday of the month in the navirus pandemic.
The sessions are appropriate for those who wish to church hall (just behind the church, off Regent Carol Lawson, activities coordina-
enter the Church (RCIA) and those who are explor- Street) at 4:30 pm. Our address is Our Lady and tor at the home, said the residents
ing faith. Whether you are baptised, non-baptised, St Thomas of Hereford RC Church, Regent Street, enjoyed the beautiful stories and
a member of another Christian or faith community, DE7 5RF, Ilkeston. prayers and especially the singing
or a Catholic who has just been away for a while Fr. Andrew of Father Julius, whose ‘angelic
and just wants a refresher you would be warmly voice was heard and appreciated’
welcomed. even though he was wearing a
facemask as per government rules.