Wise Men

Wednesday 5th May, 2021

I am sorry to say that I cannot get interested or excited about the Elections being held tomorrow. I cast my postal vote some time ago and have grown cynical and uninterested since. All sorts of promises, all sorts of poll predictions, all sorts of claims and much else and I fear nothing I pray for will be achieved. I want the homeless to be housed, the hungry to be fed, the unemployed to find work, the lonely to be comforted and on and on. Much of this cannot be achieved by politicians but they do create an atmosphere and attitude. I fear that at present that political climate is sleaze, self interest and purely economic and political party based.....I may be wrong, I hope I am wrong and I pray. Certainly there are good and selfless politicians and many are tarred with the negative brush which is unfair. So do I feel out of synch with society? Yes, I do yet I want to make a difference, I want to protest, I want to seek good things for people and I will not become lackadaisical and disengaged but I will still express my opinions, even if negative. I will try to enthuse about many things and I will try to enthuse politicians in them but the Electioneering for tomorrow's voting has not been inspirational nor engaged me. It seems tired and hackneyed.

Today I walked to Mass. I prayed for the politicians that they might be inspired and principled. I then went off with my artist friend to Wormit bay and a picnic of sausages and coffee. She said I sounded and looked depressed but I do not feel those things but just lacking immediate hope. Then I walked back via the local shop to buy milk.

I then hoovered the top floor of the house and carried out three loads of washing. These I hung outside. Then I grabbed my litter picker and set off. What a fabulous walk over the hills with the ever stunning views. The sands of Tentsmuir were brightly yellow and sunlit. The sea was intensely blue and breakers could be seen out in to the North Sea. I caught a bus back and as we trundled along from Tayport the heavens opened and the hail fell in sheets. It was torrential. I got wet as I walked from the bus stop but the sleet stopped as suddenly as it had started. Then I saw my laundry on the line. I have left it there hoping it may dry in the next few hours. I shall have a siesta and hope. Yes, hope is vital. Without it we are lost in a morass of despair and despair leads to ennui and accidie which lead to the death of the soul. Please God we will rise to challenges. I did note in passing an interesting BBC video on the re growing of coral. All things are possible to God and many things are possible to man, even honesty and altruism in politics.

Does this suit, this reflection in poetry on the Wise men and Shepherds?

" When then our sorrows we apply

To our own wants and poverty,

When we look up in all distress,

And our own misery confess,

Sending both thanks and prayers above,

Then, though we do not know, we love."