I took this photo at Altamount, Millstreet, Co.Cork on Monday. It was a beautiful sunny day but it was only for one day before the rain rolled back in. There is a murmuring or a whisper that the weather will improve next week across Ireland

On This Day 

On April 11th 1970 Apollo 13 was launched from Cape Kennedy (now Cape Canaveral), Florida. Although scheduled to be the third lunar landing, the mission was aborted after an oxygen tank exploded en route to the Moon.

On April 11th 2019 WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is forcibly removed from the Ecuadorian embassy in London by police and arrested on failure to appear in court on US extradition charges

Birthday’s Today🎂

Jeremy Clarkson (Presenter of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire) is 64

Lisa Stansfield (Singer) is 58

Michael Lyster (Former Presenter of the Sunday Game) is 70

Significance Of Today

Today is World Parkinson’s Day. On this day there are efforts made to increase the public awareness about the disease. It is also a recognition of all the good works that is currently underway by the world organisations that are dedicated to preventing and finding a cure for this debilitating disease.

Interesting Quote for Today

“Trust yourself. You know more than you think you do.” ~Benjamin Spock

Did You Know😇
 
Did you know that ducks cannot walk without bobbing their heads.

My Latest Videos🎥

I took my latest video at 6a.m this morning. It is the Dawn Chorus and spiritually is called ‘God’s Orchestra’. Even a plane passing by could not stop the beautiful sounds of the birds welcoming in this new day Thursday April 11th

I really like this video that I took in Glengarrif Woods and it is simply called ‘Be Calm Be Quiet Be Still’

 

I made the video below for  Easter and it is very simply called ‘Easter in my Garden’. While transplanting a young horse chestnut tree it got me reflecting on the meaning of Easter.

Thought for Week

A Waterford man Gerard Crowley made lots of news in the last few weeks by winning £250,000 on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. But he wasn’t able to answer the question for £500,000. The question was simple if you knew it. In Leonardo da Vinci’s painting  of the Last Supper, which apostle is positioned to Jesus’s left side with his finger pointing upwards?’The four choices were Thomas, Peter, Judas and John. Now I don’t have half a million sterling to give out but the correct answer is Thomas!

The clue of course in the question was his finger pointing upwards. The most famous line of Thomas is: “unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, I refuse to believe.” His story always features on the second Sunday of Easter. He is sometimes known as ‘Doubting Thomas’. I like Thomas and especially his openness, his honesty and his courage in asking questions.

Along our faith journey we can say that we also have our questions and our doubts. It’s ok to be unsure and uncertain sometimes. It’s ok to question what was once taken as certainty. It actually puts you in a stronger place, because by asking questions you always have to dig deeper to find the answers. Sometimes we don’t have all the answers but when we do, they are there for us to hold and reflect on.

Easter is also a time of reflection and a time to search for answers. It is exploring what the core of our faith means for us. Does the story of the risen Jesus give you hope or does it create more questions? Thomas had honest doubts and questions. They became stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks. Through his questions and doubts Thomas grew as a person, to understand better that life had meaning and hope for him. Our questions and doubts can help our faith grow and mature also with time.

Thought For The Week is updated each Monday