Return to service

Cold and cloudy today. Only six hours sleep, but I woke up clear headed, without brain fog and stayed like this. After 'Thought for the Day' I posted today's YouTube Morning Prayer WhatsApp link to the Parish prayer thread, then got up for breakfast. 

I went to the Eucharist at St Catherine's. Seven of us today. Being properly clear headed at Mass for a change was something to give thanks for. On quite a few occasions in the past six months I was so poorly at worship I wondered if it would be my last Communion.

 I pondered on the prospect of taking a service again, as I did on Sunday too, as I was also feeling better then. When Fr Sion asked afterward how I was getting on, I reported on the improvement I've experienced the past few days. Earlier he reflected on the story of the call of Samuel the prophet. Spontaneously he asked if I'd be willing to deputise for him again at a Wednesday service. We both laughed when I said what I'd been thinking about. I said yes, with no need to book dates in mind yet! As long as I have time to prepare and brain fog doesn't return, I believe it would be therapeutic. 

When we lived in Versoix, I remember once attending a Mass in the Catholic parish church. The priest conducted the service sitting on a stool behind the altar. His ability to move freely and stand was limited as a result of a stroke, his voice and upper body still worked however. He'd recovered enough to continue in ministry, an example to fellow priests and congregation members I still recall thirty years later and told the story to Sion. Later he messaged me asking if I'd stand in for him on the 28th of this month.

I cooked a spicy red bean and mushroom dish for our lunch, and after a rest walked in Llandaff Fields before it got dark. I emailed a worried Kath to reassure her I'd thought carefully about giving up statins before stopping them. I so needed a respite from brain fog, and I'm less tired now. That can't be bad can it?

After supper I wrote next week's biblical reflection on a difficult biblical reflection for next Wednesday on understanding St Matthew's apocalyptic Gospel passage. Fears of a destructive end to our world by one means or another, are rife in news feeds that thrive on fear, uncertainty and doubt. It took me longer than usual to express insights clearly, but it was interesting to note how similar biblical fears are to ones picked up by algorithms pushing out bad news.