B is for BARRIER

They began to appear in the early seventies, first in the major cities like Belfast and Londonderry, then in most towns and eventually even the smallest village had some sort of barrier erected. Initially they were makeshift, blockages, comprising mostly of a few barrels filled with sand and stretching across part of the road with maybe a metal pole that could be raised or lowered by someone on duty, but before too long it was obvious that a less temporary obstruction was going to be necessary and so long gates were hung on pillars allowing any duty officer to open and close them with more ease. No longer were they restricted to just entry and exit points from certain areas but barriers started to surface at the entrance to many major buildings and offices and there was a rapid increase in the number of security guards being deployed at various establishments. At some barriers, it was necessary to show some form of identification, at others photographs were taken and at many, the reason for needing to go beyond the barrier had to be given. In the evening, the gates were closed and locked and nobody was permitted to go beyond them until the next opening the following day. But anyone really wanting to get to the area where access was denied could usually find a way if they had the desire. And most terrorists had more than enough desire. Yet while the barriers reduced the options in one area they often created problems in another. It is impossible to render a whole city or town impenetrable so when bombs could not be planted in one area, another was chosen. But he mind of the terrorist is much more ingenious than those who do not think of such things and they always seemed to find ways around the barriers. Sometimes, the explosive devices were hung on the barrier gates, with reckless disregard for security personnel and passers-by. Often they were carried in on foot, before the days when almost everyone was searched when entering either a street or a shop. Several times, innocent delivery drivers were forced to carry such devices beyond the barriers to prevent hurt or worse to their immediate family members and when security was tightened even more, the explosives were launched as rockets outside the area and usually from a carefully reconstructed vehicle that camouflaged the occupants' intentions.

Villages were probably more easily protected since many only had a main street with an entry or exit point at each end. In the initial years, the barriers at both ends were usually closed at around tea time and remained so until about seven the next morning. Residents who needed access in or out or any other individual who had a reason for being in the village could move freely through one of the two barriers that remained 'manned' at all times. As tensions increased, however, our local village remained closed at one end all the time, an action which tended to inconvenience the law abiding folk more so than the terrorist. For several years our local school bus route had to be diverted around the village, along a more minor country road and as all other traffic was similarly affected, it presented its own problems for drivers. For shops and businesses within the villages and towns, lack of access or more correctly lack of ease of access meant that many shoppers stayed away or at least visited more infrequently and, coupled with the constant threat of explosions in the vicinity, many store owners found it difficult to survive in business. Night life disappeared, towns and cities were deserted after dark as most people plumped for the safety of their own houses. Then, one day the barriers started to come down, not all at the same time and some for only short periods of the day. And life began to show some degree of normality. Eventually, years later the bulldozers and diggers arrived and by the time our sons were old enough to understand, there was nothing only history to tell them. And it wasn't all doom and gloom. Many town and city centres that had become pedestrianised of necessity, remained so and became safer places to be and out of town shopping centres began to appear.

I suppose I'm not the most open person in the world and sometimes choose to erect a barrier when someone gets too close. It's never out of a sense of fear nor dislike but more a case of protecting my innermost self from the prying eyes of others. Like any barrier, I make the choice of who is allowed to go beyond it and even then what they are allowed access to. I think everyone is the same to a greater or lesser degree though others may have different reasons for their actions. And you know it does bring a level of security to life.

Some people erect barriers to God and to the faith of His followers. It also provides a level of security, stopping them even being approached on the subject. But, with God, there is no barrier to our inner thoughts for He knows them even before we think them. And there is no barrier to God, since Jesus removed the last obstacle of death though His resurrection. Paul tells us 'For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.' Life is better since the barriers came down and life with God is certainly better than trying to exclude Him from our lives. But be warned! Just like the shoppers stopped coming into town, there may come a time when God just doesn't wait outside your barrier any longer. You know, some people never returned to town.