Living in a van

He didn't look very happy as he trudged, round shouldered, past the west front of York Minster last night. But as soon as I spoke to him, John brightened up, just as though I'd touched a switch inside him.
He was on his way to a phone box to call his wife, and I was inviting people to come into church for our worship cafe. For the next hour I listened to a fascinating story. John lives in the Orkneys but works as a civil servant in Leeds. He plays the organ for two churches in Filey and lives in his van when he's a way from home. He made no secret of his hopes for early retirement. Anticipation of it is what prompted him and his wife to sell up their North Yorkshire home and move to the far north. So every few weeks, John points his van north and catches the ferry from the mainland home for a 12 day break. During his working time here he plays the organ at weekends and calls his wife every night.
He seemed really pleased to have somewhere to sit, chat and drink coffee as the contemporary worship music played in the background. I enjoyed listening to him too. It makes it worth standing outside St Michael le Belfrey church on Wednesday evenings handing out invitations for coffee and worship. If you're passing York Minster this summer pop into St Mikes for a chat.