A few weeks ago Emily and I got up early on a Saturday morning and headed down to our friend Dave’s house (Sue was away). 
There we met with others and walked around the corner to join the growing crowd. There, on a normally busy crossroads, the police were stopping vehicles from passing through. They couldn’t have passed through anyway, there were too many people.
People lined both sides of the road, sometimes many people deep. Other people were hanging out of upstairs windows or sitting on top of bay windows. There were others who were sat on top of shop fronts.
We found a place for our small party to stand and were eventually joined by others that we knew. We waved at some other people across the road that we knew and joined the general hubbub.
Being early on a Saturday morning some people had just put a coat on top of their pyjamas, others looked like they’d already been up for hours. There were people of every generation, older people and families with small children.
Everyone was waiting in anticipation of an arrival at this time and at this place.
We were lining the streets keeping the road clear.
Something was going to be passing by.
Eventually a group of police motorcycle riders came slowly down either side of the road making sure that everyone was off the road. There way of doing this was quite fun as they high-fived all of the children as they drove down.
The motorcycles were followed by police cars and then by various other vehicles.
It was then time for main event.
It was a l lady who was running holding the Olympic torch.
Everyone applauded as she passed by.
The lady was moving at quite a pace and passed by in no time at all.
In no time at all people dispersed back from where they had come. We meandered back to Dave’s house for some breakfast chattering about what we had seen.
We’d been there and seen it, this was a once in a lifetime event.
In the Bible there was a similar event, but this was once for all time:
28 After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. 29 As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. 30 “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32 So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33 And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”
34 And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.
36 As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37 When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.
38 “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”[c]39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
40 He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”
Graham Chastney 