5 March 2026 – From My Diary 1996

I had a baptismal visit. The baby was as good as gold. The older child was a toddler and felt threatened by my presence. He clung to his mother. ‘He must get out!’ the child insisted. ‘Come on,’ said his dad, ‘It’s the minister.’ That made no difference. ‘I no speak. He must go in big car!’

When I left the house, I said, ‘Goodbye!’ to the child and mentioned him by name. He replied, ‘No, I no want you!’  There was a restlessness in the house. The father of the child had several jobs. ‘He doesn’t rest.’ said his wife mournfully. ‘And he doesn’t let us rest either.’ The baptism passed without incident.

I had greater success in the Secondary School. At Wallace High, I was working my way around all the Second Year classes. I was usually allocated the science class because they had less students in them. I did some work on logos and Christian symbols and we made paper crosses.

At the end of my Chaplain’s slot, I was leaving the classroom, when I heard one of the Second Year students pleading with the German teacher who was just arriving. ‘Can we not do some more Jesus things?’ he asked. I smiled and went on my way!

I had been informed that the Sixth Year had lost the use of their Common Room. Some students had been misbehaving. It seemed unfair that everyone should be punished for the mischief of the few so I took up their plight with the Deputy Rector.

I wondered whether the culprits could have been identified and punished in a different way. The Deputy Rector listened and then told me that the Common Room was a privilege for the Sixth Form and considered to be a corporate responsibility for the whole Year Group.  I realised there was something to be said for corporate self-discipline.