The pursuit of good news

Sunday 18th October, 2020

Streamed Mass from Canada where it was 'Mission Sunday'. The Priest spoke of the remarkable lives of many taking the Gospel to all sorts of places because they wanted to share the Good news. Of course, the Christian Faith has not always brought joy but conquest and plunder also. It has justified atrocities and horrors beyond imagining. Yet the aim of many Missionaries has been good, to bring joy, truth, freedom as well as medical and educational benefits. The sermon told of how today with a lack of vocations to the priesthood in Canada Missionaries from other Continents and Countries have come to help. He put it graphically by saying how he knew one who had come from a country with a temperature of 40C and lives now in a place which is minus 40C!

Dedication, belief, sharing is wonderful and sublime so long as it is good and loving. The sharing of hatred and evil is not in that category. My late Father always noted how good atomic energy was as a clean fuel but then how it could be used to destroy beyond imagination. Two sides to most things or at least two sides. No black and white, no binary.

Also the priest spoke of sincerity of heart. It gives one much to ponder and on top of it I had an email asking why God was considered male? Then, why were Catholic priests male only? I felt powerless to answer for the moment but I am on the case!

I read an old friend's letter. It is a long one and a very open and honest one. He wrote of his depression and his desire at times to take his own life. So sad as he is, to me, one of the kindest and most caring and unjudging of people. He is as of his nature simply good to all. He has recently been able to take a new route in life. He is a man who has eaten much and drunk much. He told me his greed and gluttony were masking a deep loneliness and lack of self respect. He has gotten himself together and has lost two stone, given up alcohol and feels much better. He is aiming to lose two more stone and has a whole new attitude and excitement to his life. He is dedicated now.

I took a long walk. It is damp, cold and unpleasant but I went my usual route. Three nesting herons in one tree overlooking the lower lake in the private park I wander. On the lake moorhens and a lone swan. The upper lake had the usual swan family but the two adults were outside the perimeter fence trying to get in, the cygnets were happily on the lake. Somehow the adults must have flown over the fence to eat the grass and not realised they needed to fly back over to get to the lake.

I am no good at puzzles so I sympathise. I get confused, lost.

Finally I have an email mystery to unravel. It is important so I will pursue it. It is to find out why my reply emails are not reaching their destination.

I also have a note telling me that the writer had seen a car ( colour and number supplied)

smash my car's wing mirror. Now to puzzle out how to report this. I do not know of an open police station or a number to ring.

Yup...life is not for the faint hearted but for the sincere of heart! We need to dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of good news, of love.