I have lived as an adult Christian for over fifty years, working as a barrister, as a local judge in Liverpool, before becoming a judge in the Family Division. For forty-six years of that time, I lived with my family in one of the more deprived areas of a northern city, trying to fulfil a vocation as lawyer, family man, lay preacher and whatever else has come my way. This is a reflection with the benefit of hindsight and experience of what being a Christian on the front line might be about.