Excitement

Saturday 13th March, 2021

Tomorrow is what is called Gaudete Sunday. It is the fourth Sunday of Lent and is a sort of reminder that although we fast, denial ourselves etc it is for a purpose. The purpose is that we await the Resurrection, we await Easter and the knowledge of God's absolute love for us shown in his preparedness to die. Through Good Friday and the crucifixion to Easter Sunday. It seems odd to call it 'Good' when it involves the horrifying death and agony of a truly good man, 'truly he was the son of God', as the centurion noted. Any way Gaudete Sunday is a reminder to rejoice even in challenging times and circumstances. The end of life, the pain in the vale of tears is for us to see God face to face in his Kingdom. So even in Covid we need to focus on the purpose, the good, the possible beneficial changes and experiences we have had. In th eChurch the priest will wear pink or Rose vestments as a sign of rejoicing. I think that 'in the pink' expression comes from this, but I am not sure.

I am sure that today has been a typical day with ups and downs, goods and not so goods. I walked to get the newspaper and bought eggs for a quiche at the same time and also noted some heavily reduced Cheddar cheese on offer. Back at home I read the paper. Like all other things there was good news, bad news, indifferent news plus good, bad and dull commentary. I raged and rejoiced and sometimes felt no reaction to anything I read. I do not believe it is a waste of time but I take the paper with a pinch of salt and a large dose of prayer for those who under the guise of bland headlines such as '50 girls abducted from school' or 'police and charged with murder and rape', really are facing hell and metaphorical crucifixion.

The wind has blown cold all day but the sun has shone also. So I decided to take my new usual walk up over the hills behind the village, passed the field of lambs ( I now noticed 3 black lambs and at least 34 others, some gambolling already and the sheep looking maternally smug...glorious), collecting litter as I went. I diverged in to a copse where I saw plastic bottles littered as well as plastic bags galore. I ended my walk with another diversion through the local Park where duck seemed paired and two swans glided happily. As I have written before I am pleased to have my litter grabber because normally I am a lazy man and a couch potato but the litter grabber is an incentive to get out there and I am always pleased to have bothered.

I have to admit that I have been a little worried about the decision I have made to buy a flat. I am excited and delighted yet I have never had to work out finances, sort out electricity, telephones, amenities, fridges etc etc so although I trust in God ( although his actual delivery of fridges and such like is usually through a human agent! ) I am human and suffer anxiety. Well I have just received the most spectacular email from a close friend and she has told me not to worry for she will help sort it all out! Now there is friendship and generosity.

Another email came immediately after. Another friend has been trying to sell her house and move to Italy. Nothing very promising had happened and she was getting anxious. She read in a pious Catholic practices book that the Patron of selling homes was St Joseph. It was an ancient custom to bury a statue of him in the garden of the house which was to be sold. Well the email simply stated ' am now able to dig up St Joseph and put him in the place of honour in the house...our hearth, the kitchen'.