Cloud and Fire

Stopping for a wee tourist day around the historic town of Slane, I reflect at the events of the past two days.

On Tuesday as I was approaching Tollymore forest camp site on my bike I realised I was running out of steam. My original thought had been to unload put up tent and then head out to get some food.

Instead I prayed for eggs (!), and sure enough there was a sign next to a house saying ‘eggs for sale’. Although the ‘shop’ was closed, after knocking on the door the woman took pity on me and gave me six eggs, three of which I boiled up when I got to the camp site. I was reminded of the Lord’s Prayer, ‘give us this day our daily bread (or eggs in my case)’. These unexpected answers to prayer show me that the Lord travels with me on the road.

On Wednesday at one point I got a bit confused when trying to get through a town and back onto my route, along comes another cyclist who leads me through, offers me to join them for a cup of tea (which I decline) and then heads on their way. This, amongst a few other encounters that day showed me that neighbourlyness amongst strangers is normal in Ireland. Strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet.

As Jesus shows us in the story of the good Samaritan, being a neighbour means showing love in action to the stranger on the road… it is good to experience it from others.