Fr Andy writes - 30.03.2025

An overwhelming kindness

Since my return to the parish from Portugal on the 19th February I have spent most of the time indoors. I used to enjoy my early morning walks when I would recite the rosary. I would mainly pray for the people I would meet or speak to that day or something that has happened to them in recent days. In fact that is what I was doing in Portugal, walking down the street; I was only about 200 yards from Joe and Liz’s house when my foot got tangled in some wire mesh that was lying on the road. I tried to remove the wire mesh with my other foot, which also got tangled up, when I lost my balance and fell over. The fall itself was a bit scary, but what frightened me most of all was that I could not get up, the pain and the numbness of my legs prevented me from standing up. Then a school boy approached me and attempted to lift me up, but to no avail, “Obrigada” I said, (Thank you in Portuguese) and I suggested he gets himself off to school. I managed to crawl to the side of the road. Joe and Liz live miles away from any tourist area and so resided in a small village in the middle of nowhere. I called out for help and eventually a number of locals came out of their homes to see what the shouting is all about. They approached me and started speaking to me. Of course, none of them spoke English, but one kindly lady put her hands round my head and held it up, while another one brought me a blanket and put it round me. Fortunately a guy driving by was from Switzerland, who now lives in the village, could speak English and recognised me (probably from the local bar) and knew where Joe and Liz lived. He went to their house and Joe quickly arrived and proceeded to call for an ambulance.

The ambulance team could speak a little English and made me feel comfortable during the ambulance journey to the hospital. During the 45 minutes it took to get to the hospital I asked if I could have a drink of water. They told me that they did not have any, but then they pulled off at a service station and bought me a bottle of water. When I asked how much do I owe them, they said “that is our gift to you, my friend”. At the hospital I had a number of x-rays and CT scans. It was discovered that I had fractured my pelvis in two places and that my body was practically covered with bruises.

Even before I got to the hospital I was very touched by the kindness people had shown me. When I fell and screamed for help, these local people gathered round me, a total stranger. Some put blankets around me, to keep me warm. A lovely lady gently held my head (for over half an hour). Others passing by, like the good Samaritans they were, stopped and offered help to me, a total stranger.

When I was discharged from the hospital in the evening, Joe picked me up and took me to their house and for the next 10 days or so, along with Liz, they catered for my every need. I had to bed rest for two weeks. So Joe and Liz brought me meals, helped me to wash and get to the toilet and eventually to the shower. They would go shopping for me and made sure I had everything I needed. Joe and Liz were on the ball when it came to dealing with the Insurance Company who proved to be very awkward, but Joe and Liz persevered and dealt with all the cancellations and various appointments that were necessary in these trying circumstances.

After Joe and Liz left Portugal to return to the UK, I had to spend a further three nights in hospital. When Monica walked on to the ward my eyes filled with tears, to think that she has travelled all this way just to be with me – what kindness! For the next four days Monica looked after all my needs and with the help of a wheelchair, even managed to get me outside in the Portuguese sun. I was so blessed that Monica could wheel me around the hotel where we stayed for a further four nights. Monica also dealt firmly with the Insurance Company on my behalf and she remained by my side right up to when the air ambulance team brought me home to Dinnington. Truly amazing kindness!

This kindness has continued in many ways since my return home here in Dinnington. People visiting me, delivering get well cards, texting me “get better soon” messages, telephoning me with kind and supportive words. There have been so many people who were doing some shopping for me, bringing me food and carrying out so many other good deeds that I am deeply grateful for.

The Dalai Lama said that his religion is KINDNESS, because kindness unites not just people but brings all creatures together, and in turn bringing the whole of creation together. He goes on to say that “Real love means loving kindness and compassion, the kind of love that does not have any conditions.” But the Dalai Lama makes it clear from the beginning that no one is more worthy of your kindness, than you are.

Thich Nhat Han, a Buddhist monk, asks us to imagine a spacious room with an actual weighty elephant in it. A mouse scurries in. A robin hops alongside it. An owl perches on a beam. A bat hangs upside down. A rattlesnake slithers along the floor. A spider spins a web. A mosquito buzzes. A bumblebee sits on a potted sunflower. And a curious human named Rebecca walks about. Each creature will perceive the presence of the other. They smell through the trunk, tongue, antennae and nose. Some hear sonic pitches too high or low to be audible to anyone else. They see colours differently, the ultraviolet bullseye at the centre of the sunflower visible to the bird and the bee but not to the others. Some are exquisitely tuned to the sense vibrations when others move. Some, like the mosquito, feel radiation from other bodies’ warmth. Rebecca cannot hear the high mouse squeaks or the low elephant rumbles, but listens to the robin singing. All creatures share the same physical space but experience it in wildly and wondrously different ways. What magnificence!

This is reminiscent of Isaiah’s vision:

“The wolf shall live with the lamb; the leopard shall lie down with the kid; the calf and the lion will feed together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isa 11:6-9)  

At the beginning of Lent were heard about Jesus going out into the wilderness and being tempted by Satan and when Satan departed Jesus was left with the wild animals. Even at this early stage in the ministry of Jesus, his kindness and compassion come shining through. Jesus does not terrorize or control the wild animals or attempt to make them pets. They do not fear him, attack him, submit to him, or serve him. The real beauty of the word “with” is that it gives us a warrant to follow Jesus by living as sisters and brothers with the animals, our fellow creatures who have their own destiny. Thereby we can experience the grace of otherness which God offers us in the diversity of animal creation, which is missed when animals are reduced to usefulness or threat. Thanks to this grace we are impelled to develop wholesome ecological relationships with animals and act vigorously for their wellbeing, which includes protecting the habitats they need to live.

We see this loving kindness in the way the Father of the prodigal son welcomes him back into the family home. We also see on this Mothering Sunday the kindness our mothers show us with their unconditional love and support.

So, once again I want to thank everyone in the parish for the overwhelming kindness you have showered upon me, especially in these troubling  and challenging times. May God bless you all.  With all my love, Andy