In Ireland there was a well known poet, who was greatly loved and appreciated. He was blind and his name was “Raftery an File”. For the winter he used to move down into the south of Ireland, the prosperous part where I lived, but he really thought we were a lot of mean old people, but he much preferred to live with his own people out in the west of Ireland.
So he used to really look forward to his return there. He left us a great rich legacy. A poem in Gaelic. The words were “anois teacht an earraigh”. Now with the coming of Spring I will raise up my sail and tar eis na feil Bride… and after the Feast of St Bridget – 1st February – he would take off for happier summer grounds. I very much identify with his sentiments. After this most difficult year, and we still have quite a time to go to survive, we can all look forward like Raftery an File, we can also be prepared to lift up our hearts and re-launch our lives once again.
For the moment “grace and peace”. May this holy season bless, strengthen and restore us. I am most grateful for all the help that I am getting in spite of or maybe on account of the difficulties that we have been going through.