Confessing Evangelical

Today's "Way of the World" column by the satirist Craig Brown in the Daily Telegraph provides a hard-hitting exposé of the often-neglected downside to our Lord's miracles. It's all very well performing great signs and wonders, but what about the people who have (often literally) to pick up the pieces afterwards? ;-)

From the Archive

From Letters to Way of the World, May 20, AD 33

Sir - Your correspondent waxes lyrical about last week's Feeding of the Five Thousand. Indeed, he hails it as "a modern miracle" that so many people enjoyed a nutritious meal from a few loaves and fishes.

I beg to differ. Agreed, few would take offence at the meal itself, though, as a nutritionist of some years standing, I am appalled by the absence of fresh fruit. But what troubles me is that this one-off event could give the green light to widespread food-sharing.

This means that ordinary, decent picnickers will feel obliged to hand over their hard-earned baguettes, apples, hot and cold beverages, etc, to any Tom, Dick or Harry who has had neither the foresight nor the common decency to bring a packed lunch of his own.
- Simone Heffer (Ms), Nazareth

Sir - It would be irresponsible in the extreme to overlook the many serious food issues raised by the recent Feeding of the Five Thousand.

However admirable the intention, the passing of seafood products from hand to hand in hot weather without any form of protection will cause widespread hygiene fears, adding to the burden on our hard-pressed medical services.

In future, outside catering at public events must be monitored more closely. Most experts agree that a maximum of five people should be fed at any one time, and then only in strict accordance with statutory guidelines.
- Dr D Anderson, Bethlehem

Sir - As one of those present at the so-called Feeding of the Five Thousand (in fact, the police put the figure much lower), may I say how disappointed I was by the oikish "touchy-feely" behaviour of the multitude.

They have obviously never been taught the value of "keeping oneself to oneself". And the standard of catering was not all it was cracked up to be. When I requested a second helping, I was curtly informed that there wasn't enough to go round!
- Sir Terry Worsthorne, Jerusalem

I particularly liked, "the police put the figure much lower"...