Angus MacRury’s Weblog

Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
I’m sure you’ve heard it all before
But you never really had a doubt
I don’t believe that anybody feels
The way I do about you now

And all the roads we have to walk along are winding
And all the lights that lead us there are blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to say to you
I don’t know how

Because maybe
You’re gonna be the one who saves me ?
And after all
You’re my wonderwall 

This formed the basis of one of the most powerful RME lessons I ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The Class weere a class of Primary 6 children at St Mary’s Edinburgh preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The priest was conducting the lesson with me. The children were motivated, stimulated andexcited at this priest guitar in hand teaching them to sing an Oasis song as part of their learning. The Wonderwall was their hopes, fears , aspirations for the future and they were challenged to follow the lines of the song and constuct their own wonderwall for the rest of their lives, for this they had a file of paper bricks and a blank canvas of a wall to work with. The outcomes of the series of lessons was some of the most powerful self analysis I have ever seen with children this age. Their teacher for these lessons knew how to get into the heart and soul of these children and engage them with his passion for life and for their future. I was honoured to be part of this and it has stayed with me ever since. Last night I received a telephone call from one of my colleagues at St Mary’s who informed me that David has passed away in his sleep in Barcelona whilst following his other passion, Glasgow Celtic.

I didnt know what to say.. only last month I was in Edinburgh and decided to go to vigil mass in St Mary’s Cathederal, I was pleasaed to see David was celebrating mass and talking about his experiences 30 years after his Ordination, he spoke powerfully about hopes ambitions and the future as well as recalling his epic if sometimes hazerdous cycling experiences through Europe. The packed church laughed as he recalled his lack of judgement and lack of physical rediness for such an epic cycle. But he did it. It struck me as I looked around the Catheral that night the huge number of young church members and the relation ship David had with them. He is an inspiration. After mass I chatted to him as I had not seen him for at least 4 years, we spoke for 10 minutes after mass and recalled my early days as a classteacher in St Mary’s. He always had the time to talk and listen despite being one of the busiest priests in Scotland and for this everyone loved him. Thank you David, you inspired me and many others. I am sure you will be at ease with your contribution to the countless lives you have touched in all your journeys.

Take me to the place- Deacon Blue

Theres a beach that I walk so long and so broad
Oceans away miles longer than pain
In my glad dreams, I take you there, and its easy
Because the work and the hours
And the pay are far behind our sure steps

My heart longs to be next to you
My heart wants to be there, be there with you
Where its warm and tender and mercy flows like a river
And there you stand with your wide open hands
And say abide with me