Photo was taken at Col√°iste Choilm, Ballincollig, Co.Cork (Irl)

This week marks ‘Anti Bullying Week’ in Col√°iste Choilm. These pictures were taken as part of a visual collection to get across the message in simple but direct language: ‘Bullying is NOT acceptable anywhere’.

Thought on Wednesday – November – 13/11/2013

‘Love is a maze, life is a riddle and I’m just a bit caught in the middle.’ ~Author Unknown


Abraham Lincoln, a noted storyteller, recalled that there was a farmer who had a very large shade tree towering over his house. It was a majestic looking tree and apparently perfect in every part, tall, straight and of immense size. One morning, while at work in his garden, the farmer saw a squirrel run up the tree into a hole and he wondered if the tree might be hollow. He proceeded to examine the tree carefully and much to his surprise, he found that the stately tree that he valued for its beauty and grandeur was hollow from top to bottom. Only a rim of sound wood remained, barely sufficient to support its own weight. What was he now to do? If he cut it down, it would do great damage with its great length and enormous spreading branches. If he let it remain, his family was in constant danger. In a storm it might fall or the wind might blow it down and his house and children be crushed by it. What should he do? As he turned away, he said sadly: ‘I wish I had never seen that squirrel?’

There are times in our own lives when we too feel caught in the middle. We’re not sure what to do next and regret sometimes how we got dragged there in the first place. Even Jesus himself was often caught in the middle between those who loved what he was doing and those who hated him for the good he was doing. We pray for guidance, direction and strength when we are caught in the middle.