Finished

The last stretch of my walk and the shortest, took me around the centre of the town. Easter Eve, hot, bright and glorious. The pain of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday and the exhaustion of my own physical, mental and emotional journey through those two days now allowing me space. Space to walk, to NOT think, to NOT act or work but to BE.

As the bank holiday crowds queued to enter Stourport, I felt liberated to be on foot. Free to move at my own pace and to be able to get quickly free of the heavy traffic by taking side roads and alleyways.
Even on the busy one way system, nature ruled the landscape, refusing to be suppressed by the busy-ness and polution. And such a glorious day couldn't be spoilt even by the sight of the sign promising the coming of Tescos to our town, about which I and many others have very strong feelings!

Artwork from an anonymous talent along the walls of an alleyway provoking thought and inspiring for free

The masonic hall was decked for an occasion and folk were enjoying a drink in the sunlight outside the British Legion Club. Summer seems to have come so very early this year!

So many folk enjoying the riverside, the marina, the fun fair and the shops - wonderful to see our town thriving after such a tough time. And as I walked, I remembered events and people which have made this town special to me. The difficulties over the closing of the indoor market, the mystery shopper programme, pirates' day down the waterfront, the improvement of the flowerbed outside the community housing building with the help of High School students and the Good Friday processions up the High Street; especially the year when the High School students had made crosses and businesses had displayed them in their shop windows. This is a good town! It's not flashy or pretentious; it's real and honest.

Just like the people, then! We're all just living our lives and endeavouring to make sense of our world and our place in it. As I made my way up the High Street, there was a wedding party waiting outside the Methodist Church where the day before we'd been remembering the most awful story in the New Testament.

Tears to Happiness.

And stopping off at the Co-op for a few groceries, the Easter Bunny was waiting to bring good cheer and raise funds for the Day Centre. Bunnies and Eggs, Chicks and Flowers, Chocolate and Feasting.

This is Easter - this is new life, new beginnings - this is what faith and life are all about.

May the love and hope of Easter transform our lives and our world.

Finished? Maybe just begun....