Grace of ...?

I was sitting in Victoria Park eating my lunch and enjoying the sunshine today and a woman approached me with a very dodgy, very worn book of raffle tickets (the kind you get at the newsagent for 60 cents) in her hand. She said she was part of a dance troupe who'd been invited to perform in North Dakota and they were raising money to get there. From the looks of her, I doubt she'd have made it to North Sydney, let alone North Dakota but you had to give her snaps for creative thinking.

If I'd actually had my wallet with me at the time I'd have given her $20 for being inventive enough to use something other than the "got a dollar for the train, sis?" line.

As she walked away I was reminded of a line my grandmother used to say whenever she saw someone less fortunate - "there but for the grace of god, go I". Then it suddenly struck me that I don't actually believe in god and I'm not a fan of mass religion in general, so using that expression is pretty hypocritical. But I couldn't think of anything more suitable. I wonder if Buddhists have a similar expression? What about the Scientologists? Maybe I'll drop Tom an email and ask him... he seems to be an expert on everything.

When I was a small kid my parents used to drag me to church, but the only way they could get me to sit there quietly and not heckle the priest was to let me bring a story book. The only time I was even remotely interested was when there was some hymn singing going on. In fact for someone who isn't remotely religious I seem to know a large variety of hymns. I've always loved a good sing-a-long.

I don't think Father John was overly impressed with me sitting in church reading The Enchanted Wood or Claudine of St Clare's, but at least I didn't interrupt his sermons by questioning him as to why it was only boys who could join the choir or be altar servers. That always annoyed me. Maybe I would have been more interested if I'd been allowed to be up the front (on the stage, so to speak... its the performer in me).

I wonder if the lady in Victoria Park will ever make it to North Dakota to perform... I hope so. I'd go along and cheer.