Earth is crammed with heaven

The town where I live is quite busy. It has tons of roundabouts And a bountiful supply of parked cars. Driving around it is interesting at times. All the time it seems we’re faced with the ancient philosophical question  question To give way or not to give way. Now I know there are rules about such things. I know the Highway Code and can recite it on request. Obviously 🙄 But what about times when judgement is required? It’s my right of way. There are parked cars on both sides but room for two. It’s not my right of way but they’re approaching very slowly. And the age old ‘Who dares wins’ When you all get to the roundabout at the same time. Time and experience has taught me how to be a fairly good, safe driver. Other people may not agree with me. Ask my sons about my clutch control. But I’ve not had any complaints. At least not to my face. My thinking is how in life we know the right thing to do. We know the rules. We know our rights And we have every ...

I’m reading a book about Psalm 23 at the moment. The Lord is my shepherd I shall lack nothing. The Psalm has become a favourite in recent years. If you spot me talking to myself, while walking Daisy by a river, I’ll be reciting Psalm 23. It helps me stay grounded in God Even, or especially when life is a bit of a struggle. It’s mental health awareness month. Or at least I think it is. I’m in a good place at the moment. The worst and longest depressive episode I ever had, began to pass about 14 months ago. I feel more alive than I have in quite a few years. I’m grateful. But today I want to sit with those who are struggling. To pull up a chair Curl up And just be quiet next to you. The one thing I know I lacked in the worst of times Was hope. Hope that the darkness would ever end. Hope that I would survive. Hope that I would ever feel remotely like me again. I don’t have answers. And actually answers are not what I needed. I’d done it all. Tried eve...

The lake was quiet tonight. In fact I had it to myself for most of the time. Apart from the seagulls The coots And the odd grebe. I’d done about twenty strokes when the rain started to fall. I count them with my breaths. Just at the start to keep me focused On something other than the temperature of the water. Sometimes I forget why I swim. Until I get back in the water And it immediately soothes my heart My mind My soul. And the rain? It reminds me that there is a cycle to life. Rain is part of that and there’s a strange but wonderful feeling Of swimming in the rain. Sing along if you know it... Life is sometimes ordinary. It happens. But in the ordinary we find wonder Peace Life itself. May we find extraordinary in the ordinary. For there truth lies. And hope And joy.