Gleneagles: passing by

A few weeks before the meeting of the G8 at the Gleneagles Summit, on my way back to Carmyle from a mission appeal in Aberdeen Diocese, my curiosity brought me to Gleneagles. I had passed that way several times, but being in the middle of nowhere, one just keeps one’s foot on the accelerator and carries on straight forward until one see the tower of “William Wallace” on a hill of Stirling.

Pausing for a thought

From the A9 I took the exit “Gleneagles” and I turned immediately left into the real “Glen”. It was around 7.30 p.m. but the sun was still high and shining and I wanted to take my time to enjoy that wonderful scenery . The “Glen” (valley) was wonderful and I immediately thought the organisers of the G8 got a real place where they could have the bliss of real life within this wonderful natural environment blessed by God. I drove slowly up-hill until I reached Glen Devon. There I stopped for a while in contemplation and then I reversed and started moving slowly down-hill, admiring and enjoying the view of valley and the view beyond the A9.

Gleneagles Hotels and Golf Fields

I reached the A9 again and crossed it heading towards the very place of the G8 meeting. By now it was around 8.30 p.m. and did not dare to enter the compound of the Hotel, so I kept going. Actually I was feeling hungry and so I thought about having a nice “Fish and Chips” for supper, but something was telling me that, surely, that was not the right place to go to for it… In fact, looking at the Golf Field and at the Golfers with their carriers, I could not notice any person with a Fish and Chips box at hand. Moreover, feeling in my pockets, I realised that it would not have been too healthy either for them and that possibly I would have needed more than half of the whole amount of  the collection of the mission appeal for an evening at the G8-to-be-Hotel. So I decided for “Auchterarder”, the nearby village.

Auchterarder: Fish and Chips

Indeed, in Auchterarder I found a Fish and Chip Shop (actually there are two or three). I saw people walking happily with their box of fish and chips and enjoying their late evening meal with the help of their fingers. Looking at them my appetite increased immediately. Less than five pounds and off I went with my Fish-and-Chips and a “Coke” heading towards the hills of Brago where I found a small and nice place where to enjoy the Fish and Chips and the Coke in front of a beautiful view and a wonderful sun-set.

Africa and Sudan

While helping myself with my fingers, I thanked God for those who prepared this nice fish and chips which I was enjoying so much. The View in front of me was fantastic and the sunset immediately brought me back to Africa and its most magnificent sunsets. I could start already hearing the joyful voices of children, the music of the village the drums, the dances.

Sharing with...

My thoughts went on to the various joyful occasions I had with the people, but also to the sufferings caused by war, violence, famine, sickness and death. My mind went on thinking on how many hardships people had to endure in order to carry on life with their families in the villages, in the “refugee-camps” and in the “displaced-people-camps”. It reminded me about the wounds left by hatred and war in the hearts of the people, especially of young people. How many chances missed in every aspect of life, especially in education and health. It reminded me also how great was the struggle in order to find always a new hope of living. I saw it especially when I was visiting the people and celebrating together the Holy Mass.

Praying with Young People

The Eucharistic Celebration (Holy Mass) was really the centre of their life. The great majority of the congregation were Young People. No signs of tiredness and boredom. Faith and Prayer were living realities, and life-giving experiences. The participation, the singing, the dancing were living and inspiring events bringing new joy and strength to face the tough situations of their life and the uncertainties of the future.

"I am with you always..."

The presence of Jesus and his re-assuring words: “Do not be afraid, I am with you always…” were a source of new life and strength, a source of new hope even in the middle of a thousand doubts created by the deep and sad awareness that “the powerful people” and the “powerful and rich nations” were just too busy with their own interests  to be able to take care of them.