Humpty Dumpty

A man came through to see me today. From the other side of the country.

Reason?

He had a question he wanted to ask me. Just one question.

"What is happening?"

He was talking about big church. And I think he was genuinely perplexed.

What is happening?

There were folk from the tribe of Issachar, a long, long time ago, of whom it was said that they had understanding of the times.

They could have told you, I think, what was happening. They had that sort of understanding.

It would be good if these guys were still around. We could do with them now.

What is happening?

Well, I told the man what I thought had happened. Which isn't quite the same, I know.

But it helps in seeing what's starting to happen now.

Which I think is a bit like a garment falling to bits.

It's a bit like the bolt at the centre of some machinery, which holds all the pieces together, has now simply sheared. And the pieces begin to fragment.

The very basic element of trust has gone.

It's a bit like the walls of the sheep-pen have suddenly crumbled to bits, and the sheep as they start then to wander around have nothing to give them cohesion.

What is happening?

Well, I think something rather like that is happening now. And the damage is clearly done.

I think I simply confirmed the man's fears. He's wise and perceptive and is good at discerning the vibes.

Damage limitation is, I think, where we're at these days.

Because the damage, I say, is done. And I'm not that sure that piecing the bits together again will do.

Humpty Dumpty's done for.

And all the king's horses and all the king's men simply cannot put Humpty together again.