Wordsurfers
  • Home
    • About
  • Sermons
    • The Beatitudes
    • Parables
    • Fruits of the Spirit
    • The Seven Churches in Revelation
    • Living in Christ
    • The Gospel according to John
    • Daniel
    • Other Sermons
  • Publications
  • Thoughts
  • Key Readings
  • Prayers
  • "Quotes"
  • Gallery
  • Video

Buried Treasure

14/11/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
It’s no secret that I abhor paperwork.
 
Which is probably why the treasures I discovered today in an old box file have remained buried for so long.
 
Item 1 is a letter from a former Irish Taoiseach.  It probably constitutes an historical ‘primary source’ now as it was written in 1998 after the Good Friday Agreement was signed. 
 
I had written to a number of the leaders involved to thank them for their efforts for peace and assure them of our prayers.  I remember being quite tickled that the leader of the Irish Republic sent me several paragraphs warmly signed in biro with his first name.
 
It’s a reminder that politics is necessary and sometimes works.  I’m thankful that we’ve progressed a distance from the days of the Troubles in which I grew up, that our children grew up with relative peace and safety.  As Bertie wrote in his letter, ‘Thank God!’
 
Item 2 is a ticket stub from an open air gig in 2006 when Eric Clapton played in the Ampitheatre Verona, Italy.  It was a proverbial hot summer night, the smooth, ancient stones still warm under a full moon as the rock icon played and sang, ‘Layla, you got me on my knees…’
 
And again I’m thankful.  Thankful for the music.  For sometimes we need a soundtrack for our hearts, a vehicle that both sinks deep and soars heavenward, a fiery sound chariot on which to ride and express our blues, our joy and our pain.
 
Item 3 is a very basic homemade card, a piece of paper folded in half.  On the front a child has drawn in pencil a cross and some hearts.  Inside, in scrawly, beginner’s writing this child has written to her minister to tell him she loves God and Jesus.
 
That minister was me and nothing else comes close to this last priceless treasure. 
 
It speaks to me of grace, that Jesus still loves little children and bigger, older ones too!  And more than anything I’m thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given over many years and in various parishes to speak to people of all ages about the grace and love that are found in my Master Jesus.
 
God-willing I shall continue to do so until the day He calls me home.

0 Comments
<<Previous

    RSS Feed

    Archives

    October 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.