He comes through the centre door

Claiming the plastic pass

That enables him to enter as a visitor

To go where we will.

But a red light shines at the board room door

Barring the hundred and one agendas

That strategise the world for Christ.

And  the building's future

Darkness shrouds the basement hall.

But a single lamp lights up the face

Of a dejected General

Once told to go - to go and do something.

The second floor office is empty .

Gone - with a Reliance ticket -

Encircling the world, temporarily homeless himself,

With love for those not yet his own.  .

So he surrenders the visitor's pass

To enter the back door

Dedicated to those of whom he's one,

And goes to make his dwelling place with men.

19 December 1999

Written while on retreat at St Julian's, thinking of the General and the International Strategic Planning and Management Council as they took decisions on the future of 101 Queen Victoria Street. 

We'd just returned from nearly six weeks away in South Asia, and were reflecting on the meaning of what we were doing and going to do in future. We had been at the Chief of Staff's party for the ISs. The concluding conversation with the General had been on the emphasis of his first visit to India due within weeks..It concluded with my apology for absence from the International Strategy and Planning Meeting next day..

It acknowledges the shelter for the homeless created in the IHQ basement not far from the Bramwell Booth Hall, which some thought should be converted into a visitors' centre.