Seeing behind the Seen

Saturday was Granddaughter Hannah’s 18^th birthday party... We arrived to see decorations, folks in Disney-themed fancy dress, teenagers and older-folk, chatter and laughter. The evening progressed; we enjoyed conversations, drinks, music, food…

Behind the seen… There was good organisation and preparation… the love of family… close, enduring friendships… a young woman growing up… lasting memories…

Yesterday was Mother’s Day... We remember all that mothers do… giving birth, feeding, preparing lunch-boxes, ferrying to clubs, hosting sleepovers, constant hugs… Children give cards, flowers, chocolates… symbols of love

Behind the seen… Mothers give sleepless nights, provide security, give up independence, suffer worry and anxiety… Dependent children learn to love, feel emotions, appreciate gratitude…

We watched Saturday’s episode of the hospital drama Casualty.… Robyn, a well-loved nurse, died following a road traffic accident, another woman had a stroke on a trolley in the corridor, anoter woman was told she had cancer a boy needing a drip was left waiting, , a patient with little wrong with him demanded care and attention…

Behind the seen… There was frustration, anger, division… over-worked, under-resourced staff realistically representing the troubles of the NHS… Robyn’s death leading to grief, despair, guilt, blame..

I’m reading ‘God Has A Dream’ …I readily see the faults and mistakes of others. I look in a mirror and see my own failings even more clearly…

Behind the seen… Desmond Tutu says: ’When we begin to realize that God loves us with our weaknesses, with our vulnerability, with our failures, we can begin to accept them as an inevitable part of our human life. We can love others – with their failures when we stop despising ourselves – because of our failures…’

This morning I read… Elisha the prophet is in the city of Dothan. The army of the king of Aram is besieging Dothan. The situation appears hopeless. Elisha’s servant despairs…

Behind the seen… God ‘opens the servants eyes’ to see ‘the hills full of horses and chariots of fire’… invisible, real, powerful, fear-removing, hope-giving…

Musing… praying… that I will see beyond the seen today.