Photo was taken at the Brehon Hotel, Killarney, Co.Kerry (Irl)
The priests of the Cork & Ross Diocese have gathered in Killarney this week to start planning for the future. It is one step of many stepping stones, in planning together for what lies ahead in the years to come.
This beautiful stained glass piece has been part of a backdrop for the gathering/meeting
Fr. Robert Young placed this beautiful stained glass piece on display to remind us that the Holy Spirit is very much part of the journey too.
Interestingly this piece started as a few broken pieces that he found in a bucket. He saw the potential and took them to a stained glass artist Michael Dorney.
Like the pieces of a jigsaw it was realised that some were missing. So between the broken pieces and the lost pieces they evenually put together what you see in our photo today. Another stained glass artist James Scanlon helped out too.
To get the beautiful colours to stand out a strong light must shine from within.
The stained glass piece reminds us that from brokenness, great things can begin to happen.
Extras here will return on Friday
Thought on Thursday – November – 18/11/2021
Thought For The Week
‘Faith gives you an inner strength and a sense of balance and perspective in life.’ ~Gregory Peck
There was an old man who operated a rowboat for ferrying passengers between an island and the mainland. One day a passenger noticed that he had painted on one oar the word “Works,” and on the other oar the word “Faith.” Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of this. The old man replied, “I will show you,”
And so he dropped one oar, rowing only with the oar named “Works.” Of course, the boat just went around in circles. Then he switched oars, picking up “Faith” and dropping “Works.” And the little rowboat went around in circles again, this time in the opposite direction.
After this demonstration, the old man picked up both oars “Faith” and “Works,” and rowing with both oars together swiftly coursed over the water. He looked at the passenger and said, “You see, that is the way it is in life as well as in rowing a boat. You got to keep both oars in the water, otherwise, you will just go round in circles.”
It is a reflection on our own lives too. What are the oars in our lives? Do they balance each other out or are we going around in circles? In terms of spirituality, it is a strong viewpoint that a belief in something is crucial in bringing balance. Not to have a belief in something is like using just one oar. There are so many different religions that claim this space. Each one claims its own unique position. Even if you are not affiliated to a religion or struggle with religious belief, having a belief in something is important.
Throughout our Gospel stories we get a beautiful sense of how Jesus naturally found this balance between belief in God and our everyday lives. He led by example and he encouraged others to find this balance. It remains a challenge for all of us to find the balance today. We sometimes find it and the lose it again. But of all days, today is a great day to begin finding this balance.
