Faith, Love, and Toilet Seats

For the past three weeks I have written my blog with sunshine and birdsong around me. It seems to be a constant ritual. I would like to believe that the current climate will stay to raise our spirits, but I fear my faith in the British weather is far from strong.

I have begun to call these blogs (in my head) ‘The COVID-19 Blogs’ I have three trains of thought for this:

1. It is the current climate I am writing in.

2. The title sounds like am a writer of note (this could not be further from the truth).

3. I sound like a pretentious twit.

I fear the third option is far nearer the truth and therefore, I will keep these musings in my head where perhaps they really need to stay and maybe this phrase will be far too overused anyway, once we emerge from the apocalyptic world we find ourselves in.

Today is Easter Sunday and despite having little faith in the weather, I do have a faith. I have friends of the same faith, of different faiths and friends who have none.

I do think we all need something to believe in and whatever it is, be it faith in nature, in humanity, in each other, I hope it helps in these troubled times.

I have never been one to preach to others, although I know most of my Christian friends will completely disagree.

I however, have always felt incredibly uncomfortable doing so, this being said, when people ask me and they often do, I will happily explain my reasons why.

This brings me to the events of Good Friday and the ‘Toilet Seat.’

Last year I attended a service in church, an hour in which bible readings are given and after each reading, a time of solitude with your own thoughts and prayers. This day and these thoughts are incredibly meaningful for me, although my thoughts often begin to start wandering, which is why silence is really important.

Good Friday last year was again a beautiful sunny day, the church door was left open; the sounds of spring, the buzzing of insects and the sounds of children’s joy. The reason for this, being the close proximity of the church to the park.

Then there was the ice cream van.

While in church, the familiar tune of a childhood nursery rhyme sent my thoughts to my favourite iced delights, Rossi’s ice cream with a flake and my friends and I asking our Mum’s if we could have an ice cream from the van and the almost constant answer of “No, there are ice pops in the freezer!”

They never tasted the same though, did they?

My thoughts tangled in those memories, memories of love. This then dawned on me that it didn’t matter, because my thoughts were of ‘love’ and the very reason for me, why I was in church.

This year was different, I like many others could not sit in a familiar church with those who shared my faith.

As someone that does not count technology as my ‘best’ friend I concede that my feelings have now changed for without it, I could not have joined in with the live online service and it was comforting to see the well-known names of my fellow watchers.

My Dad for those of you who have read my ‘About Me’ page will know, lives with me. My Dad does not share the same depth of faith and had tuned in to watch his favourite soaps on the TV via headphones, as he is very deaf and much to my constant aggravation does not wear his hearing aids as much as he should.

This being the situation, I thought it was safe to watch the service sitting at the kitchen table on my iPhone in silence.

Pah!

So, the first thing while I sat in contemplation after the first reading, was my Dad asking for me to turn the sub-titles on as he couldn’t remember how? This then ended with me having to loudly explain what I was currently trying to do, while showing him how, he then couldn’t hear my explanation and so phase one had gone askew.

I then decided to go upstairs to my bedroom, being such a glorious day even when I shut my window I could still hear the wonderful music and laughter from various gardens.

There was only one place I could think of that would be quiet, which was the bathroom. My bathroom does not have a window and therefore silent.

I sat on the toilet seat lid, my iPhone on the bathroom floor with a cup of coffee (controversial I know) and in partial darkness. I did not turn the light on, as this starts the fan working and yet more noise.

Somehow though, this ridiculous situation (I admit, it did make me laugh out loud ) made me somehow feel closer to my God, who knew?

So, however you spend this Easter, whether you have a similar faith, a different faith, or no faith at all, I hope you are safe and well and socially distancing!

Easter Blessings,

Joy xxx