Last Saturday morning two contrasting events happened to my immediate family almost simultaneously.

Sarah was with Joe and Beth at the Old Vicarage. While there a 13/14 year old lad ran off with Sarah’s purse and mobile. Sarah and her mum managed to hold the door closed for a little while but he dropped the mobile and forced his way out of the door. The police found the purse with no cash but all cards, but not before I had cancelled the cards with the bank. Beth and Joe experienced the event and were understandably quite shaken.

At the same time this happened Tom was on an errand to collect my Guardian and Church Times from the newsagents. While walking along the pavement he found a £20 note outside the sandwich bar. He picked it up, took it in and asked if anyone had lost it. The lady behind the till said she would put it in an envelope with his name on, and that if it was not claimed in a week then it was his.

Sadly here, I must make a little confession. I thought ‘you wally …why didn’t you bring it home’. I did also think that the person on the till, or someone else on the staff, would take the £20. I was, however, incredibly proud of Tom and this reaction without thought.

Today is a week on. While I got my Guardian and Church Times, Tom wandered over to the sandwich bar. He returned with a massive beaming smile and a £20 note.

The whole event strikes me in a number of ways:
-the sadness of a 13 year old boy stealing purses
-the restoration of faith in the honesty normal everyday people
-the honesty and integrity of my son which I seem not to notice on an everyday basis
-how cynical I have become about people and society.

As I write I am over-whelmed with pride again of Tom who can now enjoy the delights of a £20 with a clear conscience; knowing that his world is one of both personal and community honesty, where justice and ‘the right thing’ is carried out and rewarded. I am envious, I want to be part of a world like that!