This weekend the central heating wasn't working and so (being pretty useless in these matters) I left it for those who know what they're doing (I hope!) and went for some "fresh air." It was a narrow country road where I walked, a road where I rarely meet anyone and not so many cars use it. I had walked for quite a distance, over the old bridge and up over that familiar hill, when I decided to head back before dusk. The late afternoon was still mild and the autumn leaves were silently falling around me in a gently breeze, when suddenly in the distance I saw them… what looked like a crowd of people walking towards me. The "crowd of people" turned out to be much smaller in number the closer I came to them but I was intrigued. Who were they, in those strange long outfits? Maybe, I thought, it was my eyesight. I haven't been to the optician in a while.

At last, as I grew closer to them, I could see that they were all men, monks actually; six young monks walking briskly in the late autumn afternoon – to where I don't know. One of their company raised his hand in a friendly salute but the smile looked almost "automatic," while the others stared straight ahead as they walked past, giving me the impression that they didn't even see me. I gave them a friendly smile and greeted them with a cheerful "hello" but they walked swiftly on over the hill, their eyes looking ahead to the setting sun.

What a missed opportunity! Why didn't I have some of my leaflets or tracts with me? I recall the old Girl Guide motto… "Be Prepared!" The thought came to me that they probably wouldn't have accepted anything anyway but on the other hand… who knows? "The Danger of Bridges Old and New" tract is a spiritual analogy with a photo of the old bridge on that road. They may have been interested but either way, my heart goes out to these young men.

I know where these particular monks live but was amazed that they had walked such a distance. Many years ago I remember visiting that same place which was inhabited by nuns at the time. I often wonder what they thought of "A Biblical Journey through the Irish Year" and whether any of them ever read it. But today is today – and I wasn't prepared.

I am praying for those people. I pray that light will penetrate the darkness and that those who live there would see that no amount of self-denial, self-sacrifice, self-punishment, prayer, penance, works and segregated living can ever bring us one iota closer to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ who paid it all for us at Calvary.  

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2v8&9) "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10v11-14)

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