{"id":669,"date":"2020-03-19T09:21:07","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T09:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/chaplaincy\/?p=669"},"modified":"2020-03-19T09:21:07","modified_gmt":"2020-03-19T09:21:07","slug":"words-for-this-time-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.glos.ac.uk\/chaplaincy\/2020\/03\/19\/words-for-this-time-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Words for this time #1"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Hi all – we’re going to be posting some words, images & links for this challenging time here most days. I hope they provide windows of encouragement and blessing. Sign up at the bottom of the blog if you want an email each time – and send me anything you think we could post: switcombe@glos.ac.uk is my email. Today we are also gathering for Share and Prayer <\/strong>at 12.30pm in the Chapel Room. You are welcome to join us. I will share the order of prayer later. Here is our first reflection, which comes from Ireland:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockdown<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, there is fear.
\nYes, there is isolation.
\nYes, there is panic buying.
\nYes, there is sickness.
\nYes, there is even death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But,<\/em>
\nThey say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
\nYou can hear the birds again.
\nThey say that after just a few weeks of quiet
\nThe sky is no longer thick with fumes
\nBut blue and grey and clear.
\nThey say that in the streets of Assisi
\nPeople are singing to each other
\nacross the empty squares,
\nkeeping their windows open
\nso that those who are alone
\nmay hear the sounds of family around them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
\nIs offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today a young woman I know
\nis busy spreading fliers with her number
\nthrough the neighbourhood
\nSo that the elders may have someone to call on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
\nare preparing to welcome
\nand shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
\nAll over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way.
\nAll over the world people are waking up to a new reality
\nTo how big we really are.
\nTo how little control we really have.
\nTo what really matters.
\nTo Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So we pray and we remember that
\nYes there is fear.
\nBut there does not have to be hate.
\nYes there is isolation.
\nBut there does not have to be loneliness.
\nYes there is panic buying.
\nBut there does not have to be meanness.
\nYes there is sickness.
\nBut there does not have to be disease of the soul
\nYes there is even death.
\nBut there can always be a rebirth of love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
\nToday, breathe.
\nListen, behind the factory noises of your panic
\nThe birds are singing again,
\nThe sky is clearing,
\nSpring is coming,
\nAnd we are always encompassed by Love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Open the windows of your soul
\nAnd though you may not be able
\nto touch across the empty square,
\nSing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Fr Richard Hendrick, Ireland<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

March 13 2020<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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