Know a National Treasure when you see one

This morning I read this news (from Christian Climate Alliance):

Rev Sue Parfitt was one of four people on trial this last week for their actions with Insulate Britain. Today the trial ended with the jury being dismissed when they failed to reach a majority verdict.

Each morning Sue would read them the psalm for the day as they waited to go into court. Here she is reading Psalm 17 on Tuesday “Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry”

During cross examination the prosecution suggested that the Rev Sue Parfitt was a ‘professional convicted criminal”, having been arrested more than 30 times. Sue responded: “I am honoured beyond my words to be able to to do this at 84 for your children and your grandchildren”

Sue has been protesting about all sorts of things lately, all urgent, all directly causing the loss of lives in other parts of the world daily. She recognises she can’t do a lot aged 84, but this she can do. I think of her, and I think of Greta Thunberg, who began her school strikes aged was it 15 years old? And of Sir David Attenborough’s attention to it all, due to a life spent studying and marvelling at the natural world… sometimes the youngest and the oldest people among us have greater discernment about what is actually important. We have to stop criminalising conscience, intelligence and care for our planet and for the Palestinian people and all peoples who are victims of wholly unjustifiable wars and of the effects of climate crisis happening with increasing frequency.

How is Revd Sue Parfitt anything but a National Treasure? Here’s an idea. Why not stop wasting public money and her and everyone else’s time by putting her in court. Why not instead, sit at her feet? Point a camera at her, and ask her what she has to say. Then broadcast it. Then give her a medal. And tell her to put her feet up while you brew her a pot of tea, and reassure her that her work is done, while you watch the video go viral. Why not?