Sunday 2nd November - Lo, I am with you always...

 That's one of the verses from the New Testament which I hold on to, even if I can't quote chapter and verse. I think there's a bit more to it, but those five words are all I need.

The verse often came to mind when I was with my father. He wasn't religious, and so the Bible was no comfort to him. When he was on his own, he was alone, and lonely. Especially when he was in hospital. 

When I've been in hospital by myself, and sometimes really quite scared of the imminent procedure lined up for me (MRI scans, right heart catheters, drug infusions all come to mind) I've hung on to those words. I might not have had flesh-and-blood family-and-friend's hands to hold on to, but I know I've not been totally on my own.

The words came back to me again when I read a blog post recently from a lady whose hospice has had to end its weekly outreach/social meetings (those dreaded funding cuts). This was the only time she could go out and meet her friends there; now she will see her carers twice a day, and that's all. Oh dear. 

I put 'send a postcard' right at the top of my Nine for November list in response to her post; many years ago I was asked to make weekly visits to an elderly and frail member of our congregation. My life was overflowing with commitments at that time, and I knew this would be the straw that broke my back. 

'Look, Peggy,' (not her real name) I said. 'I know I just can't make that promise. But I can promise to send you a postcard every week, just to let you know I'm thinking of you.' 

That worked really well. Occasionally I'd deliver the card in person,  more usually I'd stand by the post box outside the school where I was about to start teaching, or before I roared off to the next one, pull a stamped addressed card from my bag, write it and drop it in. I did this for at least four years; I know because when Peggy died her daughter found a tin with over 200 cards inside, all from me.

So, for the first of November, yesterday, I listened to these Bartok folk dance, which I've known and loved for decades.

Today, for the second of November, I shall send someone a postcard. (Or rather I'll write it, and someone - guess who! - will take it to the post for me!)