Good Friday

I'm not a religious person but I've been to (a) church. While I was doing admin this morning I was musing on how the observance of Easter has changed out of all recognition. Hot cross buns were eaten only on Good Friday, now they're available nearly all year round, even Mary Berry eats them throughout Lent. Everybody, not only Catholics, used to eat fish and no meat on Good Friday, which was a quiet, reflective sort of day. Nobody tucked into Easter eggs on Good Friday, they're a symbol of new life reserved for Easter Sunday. Never mind that these religious traditions have been mingled with the pagan Eoestre spring celebrations. They're national traditions in a Christian country and are the reason why we have two bank holidays. I'm all for upholding them.

I searched the 'net for a church with a crucifix and found one fairly close to home, St Mary-at-Latton. It was mid-afternoon, I saw a couple in the churchyard and asked them if the church was locked. One was the vicar who told me it is kept locked unless there is a service. (A shame, all churches used to be open all the time.) She kindly let me in and put on the lights so that I could get a pic of the crucifix. I'm pleased that I went.

Today's poem is Night Thoughts by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. http://www.inspirationalstories.com/poems/night-thoughts-johann-wolfgang-von-goethe-poems/

It's about the all-consuming nature of love. Goethe pities the stars because, no matter how beautiful and useful they are, they can't experience love. When people are in love nothing else matters, they forget that the stars even exist.