pansies in Kilkenney
Good Night, God,
Another day of sight SEEING! And thank You for a lovely day. We saw a castle in Cahir — a castle belonging to the Butler family for over 800 years. That’s a long time.Then we stopped in Kilkenney and we could have seen another castle. But as Kit said, we were “castled out.”
Can it be, God, that I am losing my taste for castles? I think so. They are fortified because people WANT to attack them. Castles were built by invaders and I was going to say that the conquered people had no love lost for the invading family living in the castle. But then I thought, hmmm, JOBS? Did the local folks see castles as the stimulus package of that time and place? But, enough of castles!
I started with the pansies, God, because they are fleeting — they last for a season — then are gone. They are at the other end from the castles which were built to LAST. The idea is coming to me that maybe we have it upside down, God. Maybe the best things we do are the most fleeting? Can it be that a smile, a kind work, an attentive ear are more important than building a castle?
Our tour director was telling us of all the years of talking together — of working out compromises — that it has taken to build peace in Northern Ireland. War is so simple compared to creating peace.
And that brings me, God, to my last thought for the evening. People are what I will remember from this trip — even more than the flowers — and far more than the castles.
This woman, Geradine Martin, hosted our home visit. She was a very good camogie player (that is what they call hurling when it’s played by women. Hurling – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia . It is wonderful how interesting a thing can be when described with enthusiasm and joy! So, now I know about Camogie — but what I really know, is how essential our fellow humans are to our well being — better even than flowers! Thank You, God for flowers and people and even for the fact that You have put us in TIME.
Story teller,
A Moment with God 
I LOVE the pansies and other flowers, as I am also castled out on your trip!! Tho very glad I saw the Blarney stuff you sent… see comment to that email!.
Now to Wikipedia to check out hurling!!
Love, ML