What a day

Monday 25th October, 2020

First thing to the local garage to have my wing mirror replaced. One had been ordered last week. I arrived and the cheerful owner came out to fit it. It did not fit! Although the right mirror for the model, make and date of the car it did not fit. He rang the suppliers who promised to send the right one over that afternoon. I arranged to return at 4pm.

Then off to see an old friend. We had agreed to meet for breakfast. It was stunning. Local sausages, local black pudding, local bacon, local eggs scrambled and in her small blue room in front of a log fire.

We talked much about a sick friend, about art and about the understanding of suffering. Hot coffee for over two hours and relaxing conversation. She has a home the walls of which are covered in paintings. The house is full of books. She has a studio for her own painting and sculpting. It is simply a place filled with beauty and interest.

As I left she handed me a box of crab apples and cooking apples. Sadly the field fare, she told me, had stripped her crab apple trees. I was delighted for them and not too worried for myself.

So back home. Some reading. Stewed some of the apples and froze them. Then a short siesta. At 3.30pm I went to the library to return books and pick up a few more. Then on to  the garage. The owner looked doleful. They had sent the wrong shaped mirror. So tomorrow I will go again. I decided I did not want to walk as it was too wet. Rather I buried myself in books. I read two meditations from America, the first as to the damage done spiritually to the justice programme in the Country by Trump. The other as to the power of silence. The former seemed to suggest that silence in the face of the right wing, monied lobbies of America was immoral, the latter thought silence would bring a reconciliation and unity to mankind.

As I write so the sun has come out for the first time today. It is dusk and the setting sun is about to cast its magic on the sky. I am at home alone and the silence fills me with hope yet also highlights the deep fear I have for many which makes my stomach jittery and on edge.

I return to the psalm 'The night comes before dawn'. Without hope we are lost. Without action we are also lost. I refuse to be lost. I will trust in God and I will trust in man. I will refuse to be cowed, broken or wallow in despair. Too many before me have been through dark nights of the soul. Who am I to doubt them and their witness, their hope and their action?