Man on roof

Neil was speaking in church this morning about the healing of the paralysed man, the one whose friends lowered him through the roof of the house in which Jesus was speaking - I often wonder what the owner of the house thought about the hole in his roof, and did Jesus miraculously mend it afterwards? - and he had a visual aid for us: he was going to have himself lowered from the roof.

Click, beep, whirp, health and safety, health and safety, mutterings abounded. A rethink was called for.

Neil wasn't in ergonomics for nothing. He'd erect some scaffolding and be lowered from that.

So, people arriving at church this morning were greeted by the sight of some scaffolding draped in cloths. But the day's speaker was noticeable by his absence. It wasn't until after we'd sung some songs and his wife had read the story from the Bible, that there was a scuffling sound from the top of the scaffolding and a pair of feet popped out thus:

I got my camera out (I don't usually take it to church but I knew what was coming), took the photo and waited ready to capture the next thrilling instalment. Which wasn't to be.

Once again, health and safety murmurings had spoiled the show. Alun (below in red shirt) had been keen to go for it, but Nigel (below and bearded) had more sense. So instead of being lowered from the top, Neil had to scramble down inside and be dragged out on a blanket thus:

It wasn't quite the spectacle it could have been but no-one could say it was boring.

xx