This morning our town eerily silent after three ‘early till late’ non-stop fun days, annual Music and Arts Festival. Some transformation! Almost difficult to believe any of it actually came to pass!! Gigantic imposing stage, (from which music blared non-stop) now soundlessly out of place, redundant, Food trucks locked up. Exhausted townsfolk going about their business, (many relieved normality once again restored) but above all of that, everyone extremely grateful to God. Apart from aching heads and lighter wallets, everyone safe, sound and accounted for.
One very happy young lady from foreign shores told me this morning after Holy Mass, that she made quite a sum of money, (much needed), recycling bottles and cans discarded by affluent revellers. Good for her!!
Our sleepy small town normally serene but today it feels far quieter. Like walking along a road in the darkness of night and with every passing car lights, the darkness seemed even darker still. (Back then, when I was young and cars were scarce!!)
I got to assist Father at the Christening of three babies on Sunday morning. While setting up, many visitors dropped by our compact Church. Particularly enjoyable meeting up with members of our Travelling Community. Like our African visitors, they treasure their Faith in God. Prayer joyfully in vivid display at all times. Not hidden!!I love that!!
Loved chatting too with four delightful young guys. When I told them; ‘I cannot promise you that nothing will be wrong but you will be strong’ as they accepted my prayer, all smiled and one guy said; ‘I like that’. I told them Holy Spirit placed those words in my heart one time, as I shared my prayer with anothe lovely young guy. Simple but so profound!
Someone left a bag of lady’s clothes at my door on Saturday. Inside, amongst other items, prettiest colourful dress. Bereft lady recipient told me; ‘I have spent all day in my room, missing my family so much. Now, I will put this dress on and go hear some music in the Festival’. We both cried!! God’s amazing Grace! Dear lady’s gaze shifted!!
Myriad amazing encounters all weekend long, but this morning’s particularly poignant. Lovely couple I mistook for folk I met yesterday (Travelling Community). Guy, full of life took my prayer and began to pray it aloud, laughing (not mockingly, shocked morelike). ‘I share with whoever comes my way’, I told them. ‘Holy Spirit directs my path’. With that, beautiful lady blurted out; ‘Oh my God. This means so much. My brother committed suicide last week’. She kissed my prayer adding; ‘Meant to be’.
‘Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire’, St. Catherine of Siena wrote.
Yes, and walking every step with Jesus makes exactly that happen. My home is not here, it is in Heaven. We are going back to God from Whom we came and our place is there now waiting for us.
‘He must increase, but I must decrease’. (John 3:30)
St. John Vianney (Cure D’Ars) Feast day today. What a role model He is, in this our day and time;
‘Man has a noble task; that of Prayer and Love. To pray and to love, that is the happiness of man on earth’.
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