Look for the joy

Sunday 21st March, 2021

Streamed Mass from Canada. An excellent sermon although the singing of psalm and other parts of the Mass was not so good, in fact off putting and almost upsetting! Priest sermonised on the Gospel phrase ' my soul is troubled'. He acknowledged suffering and pain with no solution but perseverance, trust and hope. He quoted the negro spiritual 'no one knows the trouble I have seen'. I looked it up on YouTube and listened to Louis Armstrong's version of it. Very powerful spirituality. Also the priest quoted Pope Francis who speaks of seeing so much suffering, so so much and who is overwhelmed by it but never hopeless. This has been a meditation for the day.

It has been another utterly glorious day. Sunshine, blue skies and a feeling of life, growth and development. So I returned to the walk I took yesterday, up over the hills behind Newport and back down through the Scotscraig Estate. The hills had some people, the Estate hardly any. I met some old regulars. Also I met one acquaintance on the Estate who told me she had just sat for 15 minutes on a fallen tree and heard nothing but bird song. I had the same experience a few minutes later. Then down to the layby and the mobile coffee van with queues of people and lots of litter...I turned a blind eye and hoped they enjoyed it. In this weather I so understand people wanting to get out, to get fresh air and exercise for their children and just to feel a form of freedom.

On my return I had a distanced talk with my neighbour who tells me she has become an adherent to the letter of the law. We spoke of Ms Sturgeon and Independence for Scotland with which she is in favour. The contrast between Sturgeon and Johnson was a major factor and she bemoaned Westminster's disregard for this land.

Back to a siesta and an interesting kind offer of a friend to replace the car he loans me. Yet I think I want to go car free because I need it rarely and it is expensive and ever in need of handling. Kindness abounds in so many.

Yes there is suffering but there is joy also.