Thoughts about articles in the Catholic Herald Aug 4th, 2017 re Chris Patten and re the joy of 'ordinariness'

For a while, last year, I used to write an email to someone at the Herald when a particular piece struck me in any way, but the aforesaid magazines would pile up as I regularly fell behind with the task and anyway, what would the very nice Luke do with my comments, apart from, occasionally, and very kindly, replying.

It still happens that I read something which I really want to share, so where else should I do so than here on my very own blog where to my amazement, I see that nearly 8400 people have viewed my God-spot pages.

Re Chris Patten: final sentence of a review of his memoir, 'First Confession'
(He) "rose so high, served so well, and remained a decent, humane and faithful public servant." I like that.

Fr Matthew Pittam's column, "The pressure to be excellent" extolls what I like to call 'the glory of the ordinary'. So many of us today are made to feel that we have to 'jump through hoops' just to do our ordinary jobs.  I think it's a really excellent article; well worth a read.

The same theme is taken up by Fr Ronald Rolheiser 'In praise of the ordinary' in his inimitable way. I would only change his last sentence, "There's a lot to be said for being a contented, little person, anchored in the rhythms of the ordinary."  by removing the 'little'!

I liked Colin Brazier's column and there's a great anecdote from his 7 year old son's school diary; funny and human. It will make most parents (and teachers) smile.

About God making me from love and for love

God, I love you because you are love.
Thank you for loving me into and holding me in existence
and for always being with me.

Another short prayer for the day about doing the right thing

Oh God,
please help me today, 
to do the right thing 
in the right way.
Amen

About being held

The whole universe 
is becradled and enveloped 
in the arms of God.