Not ME, Lord!
By Max Ramsay
It is not often that I come across a book that is such a good read that I am unable to put it down until I have read every last word. This week I read such a book; entitled Not ME, Lord! by Max Ramsay. The book chronicles Max Ramsay’s theological training at Queen’s College, Birmingham on which he embarked as a mature student in his late forties.
My husband, David, received a copy of the book from the author last week. Max was David’s former chemistry tutor at S. Katharine’s College, Liverpool when he was training to be a science teacher in the 60s. Whilst at S. Kath’s, David would visit me in Guernsey during the holidays. In order to fund his jet setting life style (more turbo prop in actuality!) David would buy tobacco at the much cheaper Guernsey price, and sell it at the higher UK price to his lecturers who were kind enough to help out a financially stretched student. Max was one of those to whom David owes a debt of gratitude. I suspect HM Customs and Excise might not have approved, though!
David read Max’s book first, and after listening to his roars of laughter, and appreciating the various snippets he read out to me, I was keen to give my reading specs some exercise. I got my opportunity at bedtime a few days ago, and could not put the book down until well past the witching hour. Even though I lost some much needed beauty sleep, the book was well worth an extra wrinkle or three!
Max is a liberal Christian and I found myself empathising with his approach to spirituality. He is not afraid to ask awkward questions about the nature of God and displays a tolerant good humour towards the folk with whom he has theological differences. Nevertheless, his views might give Christians of a fundamentalist persuasion apoplexy, and one feels that in another age they would be gathering brushwood to incinerate the ‘heretic’! The book is enlivened with amusing anecdotes about Max, and other priests with ‘L’ plates, assailing the pitfalls that are prey to unwary ordinands!
I heartily recommend this thought provoking, and entertaining book, which can be purchased directly from the author for £6.75. Profits from its sale are being donated to St Luke’s Hospital for the Clergy.
Rev. Max Ramsay, 6 Comber Way, Knutsford, Cheshire, UK. WA16 9BT.