Darkness and Light
Writing an editorial for a March newsletter had seemed a relatively straightforward process. I have a wonderful nephew who loves travelling all over the world and taking photographs. When I asked him for some illustrations on the theme of darkness and light, he very helpfully obliged. I was then able to begin the early stages of drafting.
All these wonderful pictures of sunrises and sunsets show how the sun could be seen from different angles and through different weather conditions all over the world.
These photographs conveyed to me a powerful message about faith. There is the same sun for everyone and at times, an overwhelming sense of wonder. What we are able to experience at that moment in time is only our own perspective. So much of what we might clumsily describe as faith is always so much greater and more wonderful than we could possibly realise.
Unfortunately, thanks to what may have been a slightly uneven pavement, I never got to finish this literary creation. Instead, I find myself now four weeks on from the accident with my ankle still broken in three places and the prospect of many months recovery time ahead. Its painful some of the time, uncomfortable all of the time and, as you may have already noticed from my emails, not great for concentration!
A broken ankle, however, even one now held together with fixings very much like Meccano set, is not a disaster. Being stopped in your tracks, confined to a room most of the time and reliant on a wheelchair for some time is also not a disaster.
Ever since my accident, I have received a great deal of kindness. My family have all been incredibly supportive, day and night. I have received cards, messages and flowers. Our trustees continue to be fantastic (Alan Race efficiently stepping in as chair). At our most recent public event you would hardly know I was missing!
Yes, darkness can at times, be scary. We can find ourselves with unforeseen challenges and situations no one in their right mind would choose. It does, however, seem appropriate to end this article with another one of my nephew’s photographs. I have no idea why he should have chosen to visit the Sahara desert. In daylight what else besides very hot sand is there to see! However, when there is absolute darkness all around, you get to see the stars.
Sarah Griffin