I suppose that it is the lot of humankind to indulge in a little self-deception from time to time. This may be because life is not always, what we would like it to be, and so we comfort ourselves with a bit of private make-belief.
This sort of deception also happens at the public level, and can be seen when something nasty happens and the media refer to the people affected as being from this or that ‘community.’ I guess that a little bit of self-deception is also involved when viewers watch TV soap operas in which actors play out fictitious lives in make-belief communities. Although I never watch Soaps, thoughts of community did however, come into my mind a couple of months ago whilst reciting the general Confession at evening prayers.
In our little church individual voices are easily heard, and so I was able to listen as the congregation said, “Almighty and most merciful Father; we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep…….. .” Likewise, they heard me saying, “We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws and there is no health in us.”
As the stone walls echoed the confessional sounds, my thoughts turned to the people kneeling together. They comprised a selection from farming, teaching, building, medicine, the law, housewives, husbands and children. In the quiet and peace of the little sanctuary, this small gathering of local people made their joint confession and received absolution in line with the words of the Book of Common Prayer.
I was somewhat moved with the thought that the people present were neighbours rather than social friends and, that except for the times in church, rarely bumped into each other. However, there was no doubting the sense of unity as each listened to the other admitting to faults and asking forgiveness.
It struck me that this little parish is a real community rather than one made up by the media, and that we are fortunate in that we don’t need to deceive ourselves, at least not in this regard.
Talking about self-deception however, reminds me of a rural wedding near Donegal at which the sermon was on the first miracle of Jesus, when he turned jugs of water into wine.
On his way home, the minister was pulled over for driving erratically. “Have you been drinking father,” enquired the friendly looking constable. “Only water” replied the incumbent. “Then why do I smell wine?” asked the law, noticing a bottle in the glove compartment. “Goodness me,” came the reply, “He’s done it again!”
View from the Pew 