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Dear Friends, 'O I do like to be beside the seaside' - that song was before my time - honestly, yet it's one I recall whenever I do go to the seaside. The Sunday School went to the coast at the beginning of September and in spite of the signs that autumn was approaching, it was a beautiful day. What fascinated me about the outing was watching us all on the beach. I don't know if it's true of other countries, I expect so, but certainly in this one, we have a programmed set of behaviour for beaches. It's very odd. Why, when faced with sea and sand, do we all revert to some deep instinctive rituals learnt in childhood? The children all acted as children do but it was the adults that so fascinated me. One person spent all afternoon digging a huge hole - deep enough to reach the water level. Why, I ask myself, did she do this and why did I find myself eagerly climbing in to feel the water on my feet and to peer out over the sides? Two men supervised the building of two very large and elaborate sandcastles. Neither seemed to be primarily for the children. Mind, I was allowed to take the youngest boy present and jump up and down on the biggest one, before we left the beach. Why was this act of wanton destruction, even if I did persuade myself it was for the public good, so people did not fall over it, so pleasurable? You can learn much about human nature watching folk on the beach, I've decided. Those who strip off and spread themselves out; those who wander around intently looking into rock pools, clutching their anoraks tight about their person; those who paddle and swim; those who feel obligated to organise ritual games with makeshift posts and balls - those who stick in their family groups and those who totally ignore their 'other significant persons', to use modern parlance. One thing is certain, we are all totally individual. One person might feel that wandering around taking photos is a lovely way to spend an afternoon on the beach, for others a nice sleep seems preferable. Yet in spite of our individualism we were a group. This was St.Mary's on the beach and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. We knew with whom we belonged even if some considered the others a little crazy. The church is like this. We belong to the one Father and share the same brother. We belong to one another, but we're a very mixed bunch, even, dare I say it, a little odd at times! Yours, Janice
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