Good King Wenceslas

MY KIND OF CAROL

I first arrived at The Passage as director in September, 2000. There was much to learn. By December I found myself, for the first time, representing The Passage at a local carol service at St Peter's, Eaton Square. It was an event of the SW1 Club, a group of local businesses, the proceeds of which were being donated to The Passage. I was very nervous.

Halfway through the service, just ahead of my address, we sang Good King Wenceslas. It was a carol I normally found a bit dreary but on this occasion I suddenly took courage. It was indeed a dark and bitterly cold night. There was a rough sleeper whom we knew well out on the church porch. His name was Kevin. I had stopped to greet him on the way in, to ask if he would come inside for the service. He declined.

As the words of the carol sang out I had a sudden insight. For the first time ever the text of that carol became startlingly poignant. Wenceslas brought food and warmth, dignity and care to the poor man in the only ways he knew how. He enlisted his servant to help - and when the servant's strength waned, he bade him walk in his footsteps, to use his own warmth and strength to continue. What a wonderful message. 

Ever since, the text of this carol has been special to me, although the music is poor. Maybe there's a point even in that. It's in the poor that strength is often found and in the unremarkable that love finds endurance. I knew the truth of the Christmas message and recognised in Wenceslas the face of Christ, the new-born king. And I found my place as the servant, walking in the warm and inspiring footsteps of the king.

The night after that carol service Kevin came into Passage House for Christmas - and never went back to rough sleeping.

I urge on you the last lines of this carol this Christmas:

...ye who now will bless the poor, shall find yourselves a blessing.

Sr Ellen Flynn is director of The Passage, London's largest voluntary sector day centre for homeless and vulnerable people.