麻豆约拍

From Rev Ruth Scott, Anglican Vicar in Richmond:

I鈥檓 for the chop, or at least a bit of my throat is. Sounds drastic 鈥� but it鈥檚 all in a good cause. I have some dodgy lumps on my thyroid gland that need to come out. In one of his poems the Persian mystic poet, Rumi, suggests that, 鈥淭his being human is a guest house鈥� with new arrivals turning up all the time 鈥� joys and sorrows, positive and negative thoughts and feelings, good and bad experiences 鈥� and our task is to welcome them all and discover what they have to teach us. I find this idea really helpful in my present circumstances. Much to my surprise, alongside the occasional expected visitors of fragility and discomfort, gratitude has been my unexpected guest. I鈥檓 grateful for the calm and lack of fear I generally feel, for the love of family and friends, and for spring flowers that colour the greyest of days. Most of all, I鈥檓 thankful I live in a time and place where treatment exists and I have access to it. I鈥檓 mindful of the women survivors I worked with in the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year who were struggling simply to meet their basic needs for food, shelter and safety. They have no access to even basic medical care. Their resilience and resourcefulness in the face of huge deprivation was deeply humbling. In the same situation I鈥檓 not sure I鈥檇 survive as they do. At this time of year Comic Relief brings to our attention many stories like theirs. Sorrow and struggle unfairly impose their presence in the lives of far too many people. Tomorrow we have another chance to ensure medical care, education, new opportunities and a whole host of other unexpected but welcome guests turn up in the lives of people who aren鈥檛 as fortunate as you and me. All I can say is please take it and, in helping others, enjoy the presence of generosity in your own personal guest house.聽 聽 聽