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

They make it look so easy and effortless but the effort is the result of great teamwork, practice and enjoying sport for the blessings it can bring. It was all part of the open night for Gaelchol√°iste Choilm, giving incoming students and parents a chance to get a feel for the school and what it has to offer.

Thought on Friday – October – 14/10/2011

‘A deeply grateful heart can change one’s attitude to God too. I no longer just think that God is good and believe it because I have been told to. I begin to feel that God is good and that God loves me and everyone else.’ ~Albert Nolan

Prayers of thanksgiving are really special. When we include such prayers in our daily schedule, it changes our attitude to life and all for the better. A prayer of thanks pulls you into the present moment and allows you to appreciate the blessings that life can bring. So often negative energy can be overwhelming and tends to be a very dominating force. When we say a prayer of thanks, we are surrounded by positive energy and very much in touch with the goodness of life. But what do we do when we are surrounded by personal tragedy and upset? How can any of us include a prayer of thanks to God then? It is unhelpful to suggest that upset and pain are part of God’s plan and that they may even be good for us? If that were true then God is some sort of horrible monster who gets a kick out of our misery. But somehow in the midst of our pain and upset, God is in there not as the cause but as the one who is helping us through it and out of it. This is what keeps us going. This is why the cross has such a deep meaning for many believers. What could your prayer of thanksgiving be today?