This is a crab apple tree in our garden at home in Altamount, Millstreet, which was taken only a few days ago. Today is the 1st of March and already there are signs of spring everywhere.
On This Day
On March 1st 2020 Wikipedia reached its one millionth article
On March 1st 2022 The film ‘Batman’ is released
On March 1st 2023 Social media site TikTok announced a 60-minute daily screen time limit for users under 18, though with an opt-out clause, in response to concerns about its addictive and harmful algorithms
Birthday’s Today🎂
Martin O’Neill (Former Irish Soccer Manager) is 72
Jack Davenport (Actor) is 51
Kesha (Singer) is 37
Saint For Today
Saint David who is the Patron Saint of Wales
Significance Of Today
Today is World Compliment Day. Studies have shown that people who receive compliments about their work are much more likely to improve their performance than those who are not complimented. Beneficiaries of compliments may also show improved social interaction as well as an increased measure of overall happiness.
Interesting Quote for Today
“There is more to life than increasing its speed.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
Did You Know😇
Did you know that you don’t have to put honey into the fridge. In fact it tastes so much better at room temperature and of course pure raw honey never goes off.
I have just shared my new video below celebrating Feb 29th and our Leap Year
Video for the Week🎥🎥
To mark our Leap Year, I have put together the following new video
Thought For The Week
We had a Lenten Talk/Prayer Service in Carrigaline last Thursday evening and it was led by Fr. Philip Mulryne O.P who is currently working in St. Mary’s Priory here in Cork. I was very touched by Fr. Philip’s talk and his story is impressive to say the least.
I am a big sports fan myself and that includes football. Since I was a child, I have followed West Ham United and I sometimes say: “Now you know why I am bald!!”. But no matter what team you followed, Man Utd under Alex Ferguson, were a powerful team with massive momentum and simply won everything all around them.
In his talk Fr. Philip talked about his dream coming true of playing for Manchester United. Alex Ferguson was his boss. He was in the same dressing room as Roy Keane, Scholes, Giggs, Schmeichel, Neville and all those great players.
As Man Utd was so competitive because of such great players, Philip wanted more game time and so he signed for Norwich City, where he was a key player in helping them to promotion up to the Premiership. But while Philip had everything, he wasn’t happy deep down. He had so much money he could buy a car and change it in two weeks if he didn’t like it.
But he talked about this restlessness that just wouldn’t go away. At a key time in his life at the age of 29 he took a break from Norwich City, came back home to Belfast, found his faith and the restlessness melted away bit by bit.
He kept searching and nourishing his faith and he went on to become a Dominican priest. Philip’s story can touch ours too. Our lives are restless until we connect with God. Once we connect with the spiritual, in whatever way works for us, the restlessness begins to melt away. This is the invitation of Lent too, to turn to God, to be open to something spiritual and to be open to something positive and good.
Does the melting away of the restlessness happen in a day or two? Of course not. But over time it most certainly does. The journey of Lent is such a lovely time to be open to the spiritual and see what happens.
(Thought For The Week is updated each Monday)
