Welcome

I’ve recently acquainted myself with a lot of doors in my home town and whilst waiting to see if the person who was behind it would actually open the door or not, I got to notice some of the variety of welcoming attitudes that people display.

One garden was festooned with lovely signs saying “love” and “hope” and “welcome”.

Another door seemed almost buried in stickers proclaiming a variety of people and items that would not be welcome under any circumstances:

“no Jehovah’s Witnesses”

“no salesmen”

“no canvassers”

“no junk mail or circulars”

I try really hard not to judge whilst I’m going round - it’s not my place to hold views on how people live, spend their money, or give their money. But I definitely got to feel the different vibes given off by different places. I’m not a Jehovah’s Witness, but I wonder what it’s like to see a sign like that and know that you have been singled out as being unwanted? It’s not all that long ago when signs could be found on pubs, shops or buses, banning various groups of people just because of their identity. And still today some groups of peope are made to feel unwelcome just because of who they are.

The Mars Bar I was given this week by a kind stranger lifted my spirits immensly. I’ve put a tub of small chocolates by my front door now, so the next time someone is round to try and sell me something, I can sweeten my refusal of their wares...