JULIET'S MUSINGS

  I recently re-read that wonderful poem 'The Hound of Heaven' by Francis Thompson - here is an extract... I fled H im down the nights and down the days I fled Him down the arches of the years I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways Of my own mind, and in the midst of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped and shot precipitated A down titanic glooms of charmed hears From those strong feet that followed, followed after But with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat, and a Voice beat, More instant than the feet: 'All things betray thee who betrayest Me.'

  I had a kind of realisation the other day.  I was thinking about the hopelessness, sadness, depression, mental ill health that are a widespread  response to the climate changes, post-covid syndrome, wars and world instability etc etc. So many young people now say that they don't want to bring a child into this world.  Whereas my generation felt that they had a beautiful world to discover in the life ahead of them, this kind of optimism is getting rarer.   Understandably. Then I saw this as a picture.  It was like dark, grey veil of despair being drawn over our minds by the enemy of our souls.  All we see and hear in the news is negative. Our world-view could become that of disheartened people who are giving up. Not only does the devil win by inciting many of the evils in our day , he continues his destructive work by making us feel hopeless. "What's the point of trying to do all sorts of brave endeavours when the world is going to s**t? " And I ...