Interrupted by Love
I want to tell you a true story. It did not happen in any parish I have served in but it came from such a reliable source and was told with such emotion that I know it must be true.
Mr Bloggs was a widower of ‘senior age’. It happened that in the same village there was also a widow of a similar vintage.
It occurred to Mr Bloggs that it might be a wise and lovely thing if the two of them spent their autumnal years together savouring what last scraps of companionship might be left of them. So Mr. Bloggs approached the widow and pleaded his case. She refused him outright. Gives every logical reason as to why this is a silly idea and politely sends him on his way. ‘He really should stop smoking that stuff.’
Mr. Bloggs goes back home, licks wounds and resolves to try again. The answer is still the same. You would think that he would have learnt his lesson the first time.
On the third attempt, (Mr. Bloggs was either wise or foolish) says “Please, even if we get just 12 months, wouldn’t it be better to snatch this opportunity than to let it pass by”. And it is this line that finally wins her over.
They had two and half years. Each of them, quite independent of the other, said that these two and half years were the happiest time of their life.
Two quick little lessons. Sometimes we have to be persistent and be patient with love. It doesn’t always come easy and you have to work at it. From the Widows perspective life was just chugging away when her life was interrupted by love. Dear Reader, always be open to the possibility of being interrupted by love and long may it last.