Here’s Something To Water: Life At Coventry Jesus Centre

Some of my crew

Diary of a skills tutor .....

9:20am. It’s snowing; it’s bitterly cold. This morning I’m expecting N....... Where is she? Running late, it appears, so I’ll just have five minutes quiet with a warm-up mug of coffee... 

9:22am: No chance: C......... comes in and desperately needs to make a phone call to his mum: he’s just out of hospital from a long stay after being beaten up and, how tragic, he has permanent brain damage and it’s affecting his limbs. Meanwhile, he’s expecting the Bridge to be open and it’s not; it's Friday. (The Bridge is our drop-in for homeless people.)

"Here, C......, it’s been snowing outside, and that wind is bitter; come in and have a cuppa – or two."

9:45am. Then N...... arrives – late but nonetheless eager as ever.  She is intrigued as to what C...... is also doing in the room. We do some reading together and then she tells me she wants  to be a volunteer help in the classroom. Sounds a wonderful idea. "How about Mondays?" I suggest.

Then, 10:30am the ladies come – eight of them – followed by the men, three of them, each a little late. They've come for our 'How to do Job Interviews' course. As nearly always, it has to be combined with an  English lesson as most folk attending come from outside the UK. Today we’re  helping them write a personal statement. That's fun. Why? What does ‘good attitude’ mean or 'enthusiasm'? They look blank until Jo and I do our double-act.  I'm a lazy so-and-so, uninterested in doing any job I'm asked to do and I can pull a long face which makes them laugh. Yes, it really is fun and Jo does a brilliant job leading this group.

12:30pm: Lunch? A quick break and then, at 1.00pm, in comes D.......; he’s an ex-alcoholic and wants to learn to read long words; he tries really hard and if he keeps coming I reckon we can crack this one. When we've finished he pulls out a carrier–bag. "Here’s  something to water," he says kindly. I open the bag with delight  - a  little plant,with delicate red flowers.

Then, 1:30pm,  M....... arrives and, after an hour, looks down with pleasure at a letter she has carefully written and typed out. Lastly, in comes J....., a homeless man. He wants to learn to use possessive apostrophes. He’s intelligent alright, just doesn’t fit the mould.

'Something' to water? 'People' more like. Watering their abilities, their confidence, their need of  self-esteem and hopefully the seed of the kingdom in their hearts. We always hope that Jesus Centres provide the environment  where those priceless seeds can germinate and grow. 

Watering, watering, watering.  I never done much gardening and  I'm abysmal at looking after house plants but this kind of watering, well, I can't help but really love it .... it's investment in people ... it's more than 'worthwhile'. Hope to see you all next week!