Sadness, but Smiles

Yesterday my friend Bill posted: We had fish and chips at Eric’s at Thornham. They were very nice but I’ve bought cars for less.

Good but expensive fish and chips … I smiled at Bill’s bill.

I was walking along the sea front early this morning. It was drizzling, damp and dismal. A young lad passed me – about twelve or thirteen. He looked tired, pale and unhappy. ‘Have you got any loose change you could spare?’ He asked very politely…

Why was such a young boy out so early? I made up my own story; I felt sad.

A little further on there were a couple of older gents, getting their fishing gear out of the car – preparing to go fishing on the beach.

We had a very British conversation about the weather… Would the rain stop? Who’d hidden the sunshine – the usual. As I walked away one of the gents said, ‘I hope they have enough chips in the chip shop – to go with all the fish I’m going to catch.’

I smiled at his cheerful optimism.

Yesterday had a good time with a group of friends – seven of us… We were young people together… somehow, we’re now our seventies!

We talked about our respective concerns – health, families, mobility… We talked with gratitude about friendship, lasting marriages, continuing faith, loved and loving children and grandchildren.

Reading this morning… St Paul’s sailing to Rome: ‘When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.’

Paul addresses the passengers and crew: ‘I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost…Do not be afraid… keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God.’

Musing… life’s mixture… sadness but smiles… Bill’s big bill, but a lovely meal… a sad boy alone but two cheerful gents together… aging seniors with declining fitness, but a lot of smiles and gratitude… shipwreck, but courage and faith.