Category Archives: Uncategorized

His austerity does not appeal I rather like my dinner But here’s the thing you can’t deny His care for every sinner   Sent to live a village life Two hundred souls in all Thousands came to visit him Impressive this footfall   Why did they come? What’s the appeal? This little man of ArsContinue reading “John Vianney Cure of Ars”

  To find the right answer You must ask the right question You must find the right question to ask Wordle gives clues Clues you can use And the clues will settle the task   At a crisis in life I could not resolve The problem the struggle I had So much was presumed SoContinue reading “Who Do You Say That I Am?”

Anything for our children That’s what we would do To keep from harm To cuddle them I’d give my life for you   Boy on life support machine Time to close it down Parents fight for precious time Precious for their own   Woman comes to Jesus Desperate for her child Will not leave tillContinue reading “Life Support”

Derelict dwellings Old houses found in France Lovingly restored Brits taking a chance   Old stones Old stories too Rise up from the ground Couples take on the challenge Something quite profound   A project they propose This our life shall be Something beautiful we make It will make us free   Even my lifeContinue reading “‘Restorer Of Ruined Houses’”

Matthew 14:22-36   There is no point to Jesus If Jesus is only then But he is not he’s now Today and yes again His power to heal is every day His power to teach goes on He feeds bread to the hungry His strength is ever strong   They thought they saw a ghostContinue reading “Let Healing Happen”

My little church is standing still Though closed up it is true Yellow and pink sandstone A hidden gem to view Special in my memory Foundation stone of life Here I found the hidden God Truth against all strife   God’s presence and community Gathered in this place Our little school beside it Schoolyard noiseContinue reading “The Hidden God”

Gospel Reflections in Year C  This homily was written circa 2016. 11th Sunday after Pentecost       18th Sunday in Ordinary Time   Common Lectionary                   Catholic Lectionary Luke 12:13-21                              Luke 12:13-21   Dreams of contentment My nephew, Robert has recently bought himself a cottage near to his home in the west of Ireland. It is a picture postcard placeContinue reading “Writings on the Road”

They got rid of JFK and Luther King Somebody wants you dead That’s the thing John the Baptist gets arrested For ‘speaking truth to power’ Bring on the dancing girl This will be the hour   Power does not bother with the truth Leave that to philosophers And to a dreamy youth Power wants positionContinue reading “Leadership”

Matthew 13:54-58   Going home Familiar sights and sounds Familiar friendly faces This is my home ground People know my family Know the place I stay Welcome back – staying long? We heard you’d been away   They know the outward story Face and figure fine They know the way I walk Seen it timeContinue reading “Home Truths”

It’s the saddest thing To be killed upon the road For the journey of your life A sudden end And Carras church stands lonely quiet In its garden green And Sharon will be laid to rest And grief will mark the scene   A man has gone to prison For texting on his phone WhileContinue reading “Gone Too Soon”

Have you found the treasure in the field? Have you found the pearl beyond all price? The Dalai Lama seems at peace Spiritual and wise Time for me to wise up too To open wide my eyes   God’s kingdom is a land of simple joy A word of peace and kindness All virtue toContinue reading “Find It”

He hugged a stranger A sister never known Or seen or heard of ever In his life A man alone in this wide world In Canada faraway Punk rocker in Vancouver Brave face against his fate No family no connection Army life and then protest Punk rock against the rottenness of life   Then inContinue reading “Blood Line”

I’ve been employed of late A writing commission Welcome pennies it is true But more than that – a passion The sense of being useful Contribution to the world We all need good employment We all need to be heard   My father hit the doldrums When ill health did for him He had lostContinue reading “This Is Your Life”

We did not fire the missiles But we provoked the bear The blame is never all one side We need to show more care Listen to our history Read the lessons there One side shows aggression But the other has its share   Lucy Worsley spoke about The English fight with Rome And how anContinue reading “Two To Tango”

My mother’s love My father’s honest way Planted me in happiness From my earliest day Two sisters and a brother A collie dog as well A happy home a dwelling place A heaven against all hell   The condition of our upbringing Determines what will be How we grow and how we feel Happy toContinue reading “Good Soil”