The photo I have up today relates to the following story/thought

I was on holidays recently and as you drive into Killarney there is an antiques shop on the left-hand side. I also noticed a big sign ‘Closing down sale – everything must go’. So of course, I went for a look and what a collection of all bits and pieces from the past, upstairs and downstairs and everywhere else you could look! Some call it junk but antiques give us a lovely insight into the history of a particular time and place.  The word antique has a lovely ring to it and has an air of importance about it.

I was drawn to an old teapot. It was dirty and brown with dust. It is a teapot that dates back to the 1950’s. I could see the potential and I knew I couldn’t let it behind. And so, I haggled the price of €40 down to €25. When I came home, I washed it and cleaned it and this most amazing and beautiful teapot came back to life. Its colours are full of life and it makes a most beautiful cup of tea.

There is a spiritual message too as we are all like the old teapot. You are also beautiful underneath. Like the teapot in the antique shop, we sometimes are covered in dust and clutter. Sometimes we need a new start and a new beginning. Like the antique teapot you are unique and special. There is nobody else just like you or never will be.

If you feel like you are covered in dust, I recall the beautiful words in scripture: ‘Courage, do not be afraid. I am with you.’ Spiritually we know that sometimes we need to find ourselves again. We need to begin again. We need to have courage, hope and to know we are not on our own.

We too are invited to open ourselves to the blessings of Jesus especially the beautiful blessing of healing. Jesus too invites us back to life, back to having meaning in our lives again and back to having a sense of purpose. And just like this antique teapot Jesus says you are special and unique, today and always.