To those of my generation of a certain musical persuasion, the edge is, naturally, part of great rock band U2. To those who would share my gentle evangelical catholic spirituality, the edge embraces the place that Jesus of Nazareth seems to have occupied during his life and ministry.

I am on the edge for a number of reasons: I am in Bartley Green, which is an outer estate area of the edge of Birmingham. I am on the edge of that estate because as one of the members of my congregation puts it, ‘you have too many books to live around here’. In English terms, I am a middle class educated professional living in a working class patch. I am also on the edge because I am a priest. Priests within the Church of England used to be at the centre. That is not true anymore, we are sometimes sought out for spiritual wisdom; although people tend sadly to go elsewhere for such resources instead of to Christian ministers.

The edge is a good place to be. It can be uncomfortable, but you can with such a view from being on the edge see much more than from residing in the middle. With such sight, words can be spoken after ears have listened.

I am glad to be on the edge… what about you?