Ireland

Today a stranger restored my faith in old ladies. She was just the type of woman I wanted to take home and adopt as my grandma; with a warm Irish accent and a kind heart. Who wouldn't want this lady to be their nanna? We talked a little about how she had loved living in South London before her lonesome move to the country, and I tried to stand on a long piece of plastic that had latched onto her tights, trailing behind her as she shuffled along. At the risk of the whole operation going wrong and ripping a giant ladder in some sweet old lady's tights, I decided to just tell her and we laughed loudly after her slow assessment of the plastic tag-on.

Today in this stranger's home country (far from our laughter and in harsh contrast), a boy found a home-made bomb on the edge of his school playground and carried it to his teacher without losing his hands, legs or face. Because a few people want a war.

It makes me think of Donald Miller and what he writes about another well-known attack on innocence:

" I remember feeling hopeless at the death of truth and seeing truth as this whispering weakling in the corner, a wallflower, having no say in the global conversation, having no guts to step forth and negotiate peace. I got sick of the emotionalism, the feelings that replaced the thoughts... we were living on sentimental cliches. Our country had become a team and we were wrapped up in whether or not we were going to win the game against them. It was like the World Cup, except with guns..." (Miller, p 77, Searching for God Knows What)

Miller talks about how war is complicated and ugly, about our need for compassion. In a book written around A.D 60 it says: I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true,

noble,

reputable,

authentic,

compelling,

gracious - the best, not the worst;

the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together for good, will work you into his most excellent harmonies...

I don't mean to be heavy, it's just been on my mind. Thanks for reading. I promise next time there will be more pictures ;)