17th May 2022

The rag-and-bone man

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
Revelation 21:5 (KJV)

I am so old I remember the rag-and-bone man arriving in the street, in the 1950’s, where my Scottish Granny lived. Unlike many rag-and-bone men, he didn’t have a particular call; he had a bugle and roused the children of the neighbourhood. He had balloons to trade for any kind of rags. My beleaguered Granny would search in her ‘ragbag’ for enough for me to acquire a balloon – which was a treasure to me in post war Britain.

The term ‘rag-and-bone man’ comes from what he or she dealt with, which was simply any rags or bones. This was before the time of synthetic fabric and there was a vast market for rags as they could be made into carpet underlay, mattress stuffing and upholstery. The animal bones were used to make glue or buttons. Before World War 2 it was common for people to buy meat on the bone, which would give several meals. The bones were then cooked for stock which made soup, and the stripped bones were kept for the rag-and-bone man.  The concept of recycling is not a new methodology – rags and bones were re-used. A transformation from old to new.

The Psalmist appealed to God to give him a pure heart: ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’(Psalm 51:10 NIV).

God, our loving Father, cleans us up and renews our heart – not just once, but every day: 

‘So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.’ (2 Corinthians 4:16 ESV). We are being transformed by the mighty power of the Holy Spirit every single day.

Now that calls for a bugle blast!

Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for your constant mercy and love toward us – we are only worthy because of your Son living in us. In Jesus’ name,  Amen.

Study by Irene Wilson

 

About the writer:
Irene Wilson is a Deaconess in the Watford congregation of Grace Communion International, and also serves on the Pastoral Council.

Local congregation:
Gracecom Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford, Herts.
WD24 7HF

Meeting time:
Saturday 11am

Local congregational contact:
George Henderson
Email: watford@gracecom.church 

Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church