Joe Swift, The World Cup and VAR

Matt Woodcock, Church of England Pioneer Minister and Mission Supporter in the Diocese of York:

Well, Chris, I know this is blasphemous to say in your company, but up until recently, my dislike of cars ran deep. They’ve always let me down. Every motor I’ve ever owned has been a cash burning, unreliable nightmare. My mechanic Steve has become like a second father so often have I called upon his services. It hasn’t helped that I’m not the best driver. ‘Terrible’, my kids say. Nervy and jerky. Poor spacial awareness. A motion sickness sufferers worst nightmare. Well, scrapping another rust bucket recently, I was determined to finally channel my inner petrolhead. I coveted a Rev-mobile that would not move in mysterious ways but be utterly dependable, adoringly attractive and a joy to drive.

Something to make my neighbours swoon not snigger when I pulled into the vicarage.
And for once, one with a cup holder. It’s the little things. After days of searching, I thought I’d found it. Low mileage. Affordable price. Attractively curvy in shiny maroon. And a dashboard like something from the Starship Enterprise. The smiling, gold-toothed salesman assured me they were “virtually giving it away”. I had to have it. Bank card at the ready, I thought I better just call my mechanic friend Steve. Barely had I told him its name, when he shouted: ‘Matt, walk away from the forecourt! Do not buy that car!’

Turns out this model is notoriously unreliable. Steve virtually makes a living out of fixing them. “It’s what’s under the bonnet that counts in this game,” he said. Another lesson learnt, then. My Christian faith is rooted in a God indifferent to outside appearances. His chief concern is our inner workings. God “looks at the heart”, the Bible says. Certainly so many of the faith heroes and heroines I’ve come across have a distinctive soulful beauty. A big-heartedness. My daily challenge then, is to continually nurture my inner self, while encouraging others to see that their real attraction lies within.

As for cars, Chris, I’m finally a proud owner of one. It’s silver, smooth to drive, totally reliable and joy of joys - has a cup holder. Yes, outwardly it’s a bit ugly, but glorious on the inside, Steve tells me. I’m learning that’s what really counts.