MIRACLES

Thursday 11th February, 2021

It is 5pm and I am in bed about to start reading a detective novel. The sun is setting as spectacularly as last evening. The rich gold-yellow is streaming through the window, blinding me with light and beauty. It has been a glorious day. I rose to blue skies and sunshine and a realisation that the temperature had been down to -12C last night. During the day some of the snow melted but again tonight it will freeze as there is no cloud cover.

I managed a short walk in toward the village to check on a friend. It was slow going and the pavements were impacted with snow and with ice formed at the bottom of the 12 to 15 inches of snow. I walked mainly in the road as they had been salted and gritted and were clear. Not too many cars so I could walk quite safely. I thought of going back again just now but will not risk it even though I have letters to post. The post man made his rounds and I had a chat with him. He really is a nice person and ever helpful and jolly.

This morning at 11am I decided to test my car battery. Thankfully the ignition caught and I let it run for a while even though I hate the pollution. As I was on the main road so two neighbours appeared. Both are older than me, both had proper snow spades and both set to work on clearing around their cars. The immediate neighbour told me that he and his wife have their jab on Saturday at Tayport. So do I. They want to go by car. Their appointment is 4 and 7 minutes after mine. I would ask to go with them but it is Covid season. If I can get my car out I will go by car but I noted a bus that goes to Tayport at 11.03 so I may go on that. It depends on how much snow and ice remains. At present it is not looking good as the snow seems impacted and freezing.

Any way I joined in the clearing. We decided that the best thing to do was to put the snow in to the road where cars and salt would dissolve it. So we did.

After a short lie down at 12.25 and a too large lunch of cheese, hummus and sourdough bread I sat in my snug and watched a film, called the 'Tourist' : it was fun and semi light hearted. After it was over I went and did another half hour of snow moving. And now I am about to read in bed.

A lazy day perhaps but I need such days.

Also today is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. I have been on pilgrimage there often and have loved the sheer madness and piety and faith and bizarre miracles I have witnessed. I used to travel with 300 people and 100 sick. The sheer generosity of the helpers, the courage and endurance of the sick, the camaraderie and fellowship was the real miracle. Once I witnessed a woman who had the most appalling arthritis. She could not open her fingers and her walking was painful. She had suffered agonies for years obviously growing ever more crippled. At the end of each pilgrimage there was a service of healing. All of us were tired, emotional and aware we were leaving soon. The sick were anointed and it was a feast of crying and hope and faith and prayers and togetherness. The woman of whom I write was there. At the end of the service while we sang and danced in the church we also began to clap and rejoice at our friendship and faith. Suddenly said lady became aware that she too was clapping. She did not know how or when or why but suddenly she was conscious of her fingers released from pain and stiffness and she was clapping. She died a few years ago still able to use her hands and ever grateful for what had happened. Every year we used to connect on the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes. May she rest in peace.

Finally I have just had an email from a friend telling me that her Mother is coming out of hospital. She had lung cancer and was dying. Well, they have found that it is not terminal and that her lungs are not in the parlous state they thought. Hey ho! Life!