I have just returned from a few days in Rome. June 2 was the Italian national Day and a public holiday. The Festa della Repubblica was celebrated in Rome with a huge procession of military and state might, ending with a fly past of military jets, swooping above the Colisseum and towards the Victor Emmanuel Monument. I watched the procession live on TV as the crowds along the way are always too dense to see anything much - especially for a short person!
I also visited theBasilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva, with important Dominican links and site of the body of St Catherine of Siena. (the head being in Siena.) I was pleased to pray in the quiet of the Basilica and remember St Catherine's words "All the way to heaven, is heaven."
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
After a few days of uncertainty, the UK has a new Prime Minister in David Cameron. The Conservatives have formed a coalition with the Lib Dems.
A key word in David's first speech as PM was "difficult". There will be "difficult" days ahead and "difficult" decisions to make.
We are "fishing from the other side of the boat" and doing things differently, butweall must pull together to ensure success.
This may not be the government many of us wanted or expected, but we have a duty now to work to ensure some form of stability and economic growth in this country.
A key word in David's first speech as PM was "difficult". There will be "difficult" days ahead and "difficult" decisions to make.
We are "fishing from the other side of the boat" and doing things differently, butweall must pull together to ensure success.
This may not be the government many of us wanted or expected, but we have a duty now to work to ensure some form of stability and economic growth in this country.
Thursday, 6 May 2010
Election Day in the UK has finally arrived. I know we have a fairly short time of campaigning, but a much longer campaign would still not have helped my thinking and decision-making.
This has been the most difficult choice I can remember in my voting history! I don't think that any of the three main parties tick my boxes.
I just pray that, whoever wins, Christians in the UK become more involved in the government and leadership and realise how incredibly important it is to engage with the political.
This has been the most difficult choice I can remember in my voting history! I don't think that any of the three main parties tick my boxes.
I just pray that, whoever wins, Christians in the UK become more involved in the government and leadership and realise how incredibly important it is to engage with the political.
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
Yesterday I went to hospital to have a couple of cysts removed. One, on my face was quite large and required 3 stitches after the cyst was removed.
I had been given local anaesthetic so it was not painful, but the surgeon asked the nurse to get me some painkillers to bring home with me.
After a ten minute wait the nurse re-appeared with a small foil pack of 6 paracetamol tablets and said "They were none in the pharmacy, so Ibrought you these from my handbag". A kind gesture on her part, but what sort of hospital has no painkillers?
My friend's teenage daughter is due to have her baby any day now. I hope the hospital can find her painkillers for the birth - a couple of paracetamol from the nurse in charge is not going to help much there!
I had been given local anaesthetic so it was not painful, but the surgeon asked the nurse to get me some painkillers to bring home with me.
After a ten minute wait the nurse re-appeared with a small foil pack of 6 paracetamol tablets and said "They were none in the pharmacy, so Ibrought you these from my handbag". A kind gesture on her part, but what sort of hospital has no painkillers?
My friend's teenage daughter is due to have her baby any day now. I hope the hospital can find her painkillers for the birth - a couple of paracetamol from the nurse in charge is not going to help much there!
Friday, 23 April 2010
Greetings on St George's day!
Over the last week there has been complete lockdown of all air travel in the UK and large parts of Northern Europe, due to fears about flying through clouds of volcanic ash that have emanated from an eruption in Iceland. Thankfully, things are getting back to normal and the many people, whose journeys were cancelled and who have found themselves stranded, are gradually able to resume their normal lives.
Mankind likes to think that it is all-powerful, that advances in technology have meant that we have tamed the world around us and we are in control. The events of this week have shown us that nature, once again, has the upper hand, and how easily our world comes to a standstill.
Over the last week there has been complete lockdown of all air travel in the UK and large parts of Northern Europe, due to fears about flying through clouds of volcanic ash that have emanated from an eruption in Iceland. Thankfully, things are getting back to normal and the many people, whose journeys were cancelled and who have found themselves stranded, are gradually able to resume their normal lives.
Mankind likes to think that it is all-powerful, that advances in technology have meant that we have tamed the world around us and we are in control. The events of this week have shown us that nature, once again, has the upper hand, and how easily our world comes to a standstill.
Friday, 16 April 2010
This has been another busy week and one in which I have struggled to keep up with everything that must be done.
Last weekend I was in Rome, and on Monday I enjoyed conversation (and ice cream!) with a Dominican friend.
This led me to think about the very different personal callings we have. In our encounters with the Risen Lord, he meets us where we are, he understands our capabilities better than we do and he invites each one of us to get involved with him, from our own unique starting point. All have different personal callings, but all are joined to community in Christ.
We all have our own song to sing, our own message to deliver. Let us all listen for the voice of the shepherd in our lives and follow,or come alongside, or be sent out before, the One who calls. And let us be confident in that calling, that sending. Let us have the Risen Lord at the centre of all we do in his name.
Last weekend I was in Rome, and on Monday I enjoyed conversation (and ice cream!) with a Dominican friend.
This led me to think about the very different personal callings we have. In our encounters with the Risen Lord, he meets us where we are, he understands our capabilities better than we do and he invites each one of us to get involved with him, from our own unique starting point. All have different personal callings, but all are joined to community in Christ.
We all have our own song to sing, our own message to deliver. Let us all listen for the voice of the shepherd in our lives and follow,or come alongside, or be sent out before, the One who calls. And let us be confident in that calling, that sending. Let us have the Risen Lord at the centre of all we do in his name.
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