I had to look and think about this as to be honest i really don't venture far as im normally there at church with at least 1 child with me,
anyhow the frontage looks tidy and there are posters telling those that come past about what activity or celebration is coming to our church, the pathway leads us to the front door. Sometimes the door way is littered with smoking parafanalia, i am happy to assist in sweeping the area as i think it takes a congregation to look after a building not a single person.
the clock is now working and the bells ringing, people are quick to notice when they stop but it does not encourage more to step through the door.
I have as chaplain sat and listened to a man who visits a grave regularly, he just wanted chance to talk about life as it was, he talked about helping with maintaining the grounds and i let him know when our lovely man was about to see him as help in any form would be welcomed.
How lovely that you were there to talk to that man. It's often the chance meetings and conversations that have the biggest impact in our lives. I'd like to think that God put you in that place, at that time, for just that purpose. I hope I can do this for the parents and staff in the school were I work.