Hail Mary full of grace, help me find a parking space!

Hail Mary full of grace, help me find a parking space!

I arrived in Redditch as a curate and was unable to drive. I had had many lessons and had taken a test in Worcester where I had worked in St George’s as a deacon. Archbishop Maurice was not happy, and told me to pass a test pronto, as I would be no use to anybody in a parish with 7 Mass centres! On the fourth attempt I passed my test, not before suffering the angriest driving instructor telling the worst learner driver, to get out of the car, when I was unable to find the right gear and stalled the car (again) Still I passed my test and drove happily to the Mass centres in the parish. I remember passing my test and then driving to Ireland on a cold January day, and skidding into a ditch on the road not far from the ferry, on route to Donegal! (my mum and sister in the car, both unimpressed!) We made it to Donegal and had a great visit! The car is the key to getting around, these days I avoid motorways and prefer the train for journeys longer than an hour. Parking the car is an art, or at least finding a space is, especially visiting hospitals, or visiting in the parish, when every household seems to have a two car minimum these days. What I learnt while learning to drive was to anticipate, it helped. I suspect it helped those on a dual carriage way in Northfield over 25 years ago when I had just past my test and turned the wrong way onto one! I only realised my mistake when cars flashed lights and beeped furiously, coming straight towards me, lucky for me the next turn to get on the right road going the correct way, was just a few metres away! Having a Guardian Angel helps! I learnt to say this prayer when hoping to find a car parking space when rushing to a hospital to get to a sick call. Hail Mary, full of grace, help me find a parking space!

This verse, that I wrote today, is an ode to driving a car, when not really liking driving!

Hail Mary, full of grace, help me find a parking space.

In my driving life,

I have been

behind the wheel

of several cars.

The first, a Mini Metro

with a dodgy ceiling,

where looking up,

I could see the stars.

Fourth time lucky, I passed my test,

to inflict my driving on all the rest!

Before the days of Sat Nav, with its bellowing voices,

Intoning instructions, while making recalculating noises.

I would look for the road signs to show me the way.

Though once I swear, they did take me

the wrong way, down a busy dual carriageway!

My driving has kept my Guardian Angel quite busy,

then I was told, “why not recite the Hail Mary!”

After that parking spaces were miraculously found.

But on reflection, these days,

I prefer to keep my feet kept firmly on the ground!

Fr Patrick Brennan 2020 ©