Joe

Thanks for Paying My Train Fare

All aboard. Our only option is to all board.

A decision out of our control, we are born passengers.

A non-negotiable status sees us journeying with people we will come to know as family.

Sometimes we change their names, sometimes they've already been reappointed.

With every birth, a mother is born.

Mum and Dad are the most common names in the world, yet hold such uniqueness.

You've joined them on their journey. On their train, in their carriage, on their seat, on their knee.

Yet over time you learn it's everyone's train, and no one's train at all.

There is definitely a destination, but where is a mystery.

There is definitely a time of arrival, which we will only learn on departing the train.

At every station there is a reshuffle.

Sliding doors allow an exchange between those we've known, and those we will know.

Each carriage has a capacity that once full, will have to give.

Because uninstructed, we question as to why passengers exit. Why there's suddenly an aisle seat free.

How we've become a solo rider checking the numbers on our ticket stub.

We question, and come back to the answer of, it's the ride.

Through reminiscent laughter, it's the ride.

Through pin prick tears, it's the ride.

There's always something to look at out of the window.

So, if a deviation from the straight and narrow causes the ride to rock,

Know that hands will appear from the shadows to pull you through to the right side of the tracks.

Seek contentment, and allow for happiness and mourning to pull in and leave as often as you allow them to.

Life can be low commotion, all we really need is love and luck.

There's someone for you in your carriage, if not, wander, you never know who you'll meet at the buffet cart.

Thanks for paying my train fare, see at the station.

Written by Joe for his mum.

Fr Michael Moreton

A dear friend of Hope and family, Parish Priest at St Winefride's Sandbach, who kindly led us in a prayer before we left the chapel to a final hymn.

Here I am Lord - A favourite hymn of Hopes (to hear this track go to the Music Gallery, within the "Visit the Galleries" tab)