I begin my cycling tour around Ireland today, and as I sit on the ferry to Belfast, find myself reflecting on a very positive encounter which happened a couple of hours ago.
As I was cycling a short journey to the ferry port, this older lady at a bus stop called out hello, and she waved her hands excitedly at me, I said hello back smiled as I cycled by and never though anything more of it.
About 30 minutes later whilst in the ferry waiting lounge, the same lady suddenly appears. She says, ‘you’re going to Ireland aren’t you? ‘yes’ I reply, ‘well I’m the lady who waved to you as you were cycling, I am going for a heart operation, but I feel like I am going to Barbados, I’m so excited, and when I’ve had my operation, I will be back on my bike just like you. Enjoy your journey!’ Her enthusiasm was so contagious, and the zest for life of this 80 (?) year old was extremely unusual. I felt an immediate kinship with her, we were both hoping for kinder times and good weather, as we anticipate the journey ahead.
Sometimes we encounter joy in the most unexpected ways, and where one person is filled with fear, another is filled with eager anticipation; maybe it is HOW we anticipate the journey ahead with God that true joy lies…
Cloud and Fire 
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