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‘Maureen’s Musings’
August 2016
Are you a collector? Do you go to boot fairs and antique shops, hoping to rival the experts from Bargain Hunt or Flog It? Did you have an autograph collection or stamp collection as a child or young adult? I suspect that most of us – if we think about it for a minute, could identify the pleasure we had from collecting something at some time in our lives.
I could probably think of several categories of collections – not least those lurking in the dark corners of my wardrobes, but the one that springs to mind is pottery mugs from Cathedrals or large churches. I have quite a few of these that sit on top of my dresser – gathering dust but never actually being used to drink from! Still, if the whole congregation should turn up on my doorstep for a cup of tea, I could probably manage! *
So collecting as a behaviour seems to be hard-wired into most human beings. And it is this tendency that the originators of Pokémon Go! ™ have capitalised on. If you haven’t heard of this video game, it probably means you have no contact with those aged under 20 (!) This is the latest craze to hit the UK, having already become amazingly popular in both America and Australia. It involves people using their smart-phones and the cameras installed in them. The game invites them to walk around (this is the good bit – at least there is physical activity involved) and their phones will show various cartoon ‘monsters’ or Pokémons, superimposed on the real world seen on their phone screen and on Google maps. When you ‘find’ one, you can then capture it in a virtual ball and win points – leading to other levels and skills within the game… The detail is not important, but it will probably mean that this summer we will see even more young people walking around (good) but with their eyes fixed on their phones!(maybe not so good). The Pokemons are particularly to be found in public places – like the post office, the village hall …. and the church.
Which is why I am making such a big thing about a video game. Word quickly spread among the clergy that this could result in a lot more visitors to our buildings during the next few weeks (until the next craze takes over of course). But even if it should be short-lived, can we afford to ignore anything that may bring new people into our sacred spaces? What will they find when they come in? (Apart from the Pokemons of course!)
So if you should spot anyone, young or old, phone in hand wandering around our beautiful church, do take the opportunity to speak to them – ask them how their collection is getting on – take an interest in what they are interested in – and invite them to come and spend some time in the peace and quiet that we have to offer. And maybe also remind them that God is continually searching for and welcoming home all his beloved little ‘monsters’ … maybe that is why we like collecting so much?
Every Blessing
Maureen.
*Pleased don’t, at least not all at once- I only have one kettle!