And so this morning another contrast, the brilliant sunshine and relative warmth gives way to rain this campervan morning, meaning confinement to the van. I can make out a blackbird and the chirping of some sparrows, but everything else is hidden under the camouflage of rain, pattering on roof, window and walls. Drops collide into each other, form rivulets and streak downwards on the windscreen. Rivulet numbers increase as does the rains volume. There is a wee chill in the van, but the coffee more than compensates. Creamy dark cloud edges away overhead and the light is grey on the eyes. The final day of the short Easter break. Reflecting on a day of gathering yesterday, family, elders and youngsters, partners and friends celebrating togetherness. Bill Maher once said that “ Community was gathering around a fire and listening to someone tell a story “ he is of course right, but yesterday we gathered around our meal shared our time and ourselves, with much laughter, catch ups with many storytellers. I think everyone was a storyteller. We danced the dance of telling and listening that happens in these gatherings.
“ This is the power of gathering : it inspires us, delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful : in a word more alive “
Alice Waters.
A gathering with no aim, but to be, to talk, to enjoy each others company and to celebrate ourselves. There seems to be an awful lot written about gathering with a purpose, an aim, objective, a sell, to motivate and not so much about gathering with no purpose other than to be. The coming together of people just to be. It’s interesting how important gatherings are to me as well as the balance of isolation, being a bit of an introvert, well quite a lot an introvert. Gatherings for occasions, gatherings to drum, gatherings to learn and gatherings to share. The power of them to inform, to move, to rally, to educate, to laugh and to cry. To celebrate, to grieve, to commiserate, to play and just to be. Today is recharge day we introverts need our space. An extra day off for some of us, so doing something for yourself today. Lovely days people.
“ Every great love starts with a great story...”
Nicholas Sparks.
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