Photo was taken last week at Gougane Barra, West Cork (Irl)
It is always great to see the swans at Gougane Barra. They have always been associated with the oratory of St Finbarr and have featured in many photos and paintings of this beautiful place. But they were missing for a long time but thankfully have made their return.
Thought on Wednesday – April – 05/04/2017
Thought For The Week
‘Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.’ ~William Arthur Ward
We had April Fools’ Day this weekend and it is sometimes called All Fools’ Day. Every year it is celebrated on April 1st by playing practical jokes and spreading hoaxes. Newspapers and radio stations go with the flow as well and usually catch people out with some outrageous story. Everyone gets caught at some stage. I was in Lourdes one Easter and it happened to coincide with April 1st. The fact that it was April Fool’s Day had not registered with me at all. The river Gave flows through Lourdes and I was told that every few years tidal surges can suddenly flow up through the river to create spectacular effects at the town weir. I was told that one was expected at lunchtime that day. So of course never to miss a photo opportunity I was in prime position looking across at the weir. Of course the tidal surge never happened and the penny dropped with me when I started asking myself why am I the only one trying to watch this? Yes indeed, everyone gets caught at some stage!
It might have been April Fool’s Day last Saturday but there is no fooling about when we say that God’s love for us is uniquely special. As believers it is the hinge on which we rest everything. Every action of love shared or received has the presence of God flowing through it. Everything is connected in some way. One action on its own is never in isolation and is always connected to something very close by. An obvious example is a smile and we know the difference it always makes. Any action done out of love and in love has immediate effect and is such a powerful force in our world. No wonder we hear so many times in scripture how God is love. When we build our lives on this foundation we are always in a good place. So before we jump headlong into whatever needs to be done next, the message is simple: slow down, think carefully about what really matters, avoid the stuff that does not energise you, be gentle with yourself and to know that everything you do matters a lot.
