Séamus Ahearne: TRUMP IS DELUDED:

I feel some sympathy for Donald Trump. He is deluded. He is like that neurotic grasshopper that I sometimes mention. He lives in a fantasy world. The word conjures up that other strange character – Infantino Gianni. This embarrassing gesture of the fawning Gianni in giving the so-called FIFA Peace Prize to Donald who has claimed ending those eight wars, which of course aren’t ended at all. The world has gone crazy with so many people willing to pander to poor little Donald. Or else the rattler will be thrown out of the pram. And Zelensky is not playing with Donald, (whatever cards he hasn’t got!) so that other war won’t be ended, and he can’t add to the ‘notches on his belt.’ Cowboy Donald is unhappy with Europe. It is falling apart and the end is nigh. The leadership are soft and useless. Why? They don’t do what he wants. The poor little child has to be humoured. I pity him. And I don’t pity America or the Republicans who continue to humour this pathetic little man.

GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS:

I have very strange little thoughts and I almost can’t believe  that these intruders have seeped into my mind. I listen to the News and read the commentaries. And I have got very weary with it all. It is damaging. It pollutes the atmosphere. Everyone wants more. Nothing is right. The world is sad. Crime is everywhere. From the morning wake up News, everything is out to be a kill-joy to hope, beauty and wonder. It is like an incurable virus. I was driving to Dungarvan and then back over the weekend. I had Lyric Radio on and it was delightful. I passed the Comeraghs and they spoke to me. Despite the rain, the flickering sun highlighted them even more.

GOOD NEWS:

I went to a Nursing Home and saw the gentle smile on my sister’s face. I watched the staff and their kindly caring. I spoke with some of the residents and felt sadness and yet goodness. I was with my family in their homes, and saw the love and the concerns of rearing the children. I saw also how they spent so much time with my sister, and I felt humbled. I went to Mass and was one of only four in the front half of the church. But the priest spoke with such affection and such faith that I was moved. And the cantor sang. And then I wondered why is there so much bad news when there is so much good news?

NEEDS AND WANTS:

I go back now to the source of my concern: Bad News. Everyone wants more. And that more is needed for what? The streets are also polluted (in my view) with those nail shops. The beauty salons. For what? For hair that has to be coloured or straightened. And then there are all those beauty treatments. Smells of all kinds. Why? Isn’t our skin quite well off without this rubbish? And then all those clothes. And the shopping. And how much money is spent on drugs of all kinds. On cigarettes and on booze. Of course everyone wants more. The ‘more’ is needed for the unnecessary. No wonder there is a ‘Cost of Living’ crisis. There is for some but not for everyone. Some of it is self-generating. And much is not needed.

INQUIRIES AND TRIBUNALS:

There is the throw-away society. And everyone has this status thing. I am better than you and I must have more than you. What also upsets my mind is this: There are forever calls for an Inquiry into this and that. It doesn’t seem to matter how long ago some event happened. What really bothers me is all these medical tribunals or Statutory Ones. For what? Mistakes happen. Let’s accept this. Everything and everyone is not fixable. We get sick. We die. Let it be. And move on. And of course all these Investigations want someone to blame. Leave it be.

THE RISING COST OF TRANQUILISERS – BLAME IT ON THE STONES (And the like):

The Covid Inquiry in the UK was quite scandalous. 20,000 died because of not shutting down a week earlier! What utter balderdash. The only Investigation that matters is – the one that helps us do better in the future, but most go on for years, and then it has to name names or no one will be satisfied. And the cost. But the bigger cost is the damage it all does to our minds. Our air is contaminated. We are too happy being able to make the dull and dreary News and then to have people to point at, and to blame for everything… I think that is a sickness in our society.

WHAT ARE WE ALL ABOUT (FAITH PEOPLE)?

And after my rant I come back to a faith-dimension. We have a task. We have a challenge. To be counter-cultural. To shout out the Good News. By the way, Church people can be as dreary and as negative as any. Many are forever dumping the negative on everyone. They spread manure which doesn’t make for growth. However we are called to do something different. To splash home everywhere beauty and wonder and love. To be positive. To notice what is special in life. To see the family. To see friendship. To see neighbours. To see community. To find those values that make life good. To grace every day. To look at the sky and the clouds and the rain and the stars. To see the water. The birds. The trees. To say with Mary Oliver – ‘the cat is praying. The trees are praying. The wren is enthusiastic in praying.’  

THE EXTRAORDINARY IN THE ORDINARY:

Every day is humbling if our minds are open. I use the example of the Advent Calendar. To open those windows or doors each day and to find little moments where God is awesome in a very ordinary way in our lives. I used an example the other night of Roy Keane and St Augustine. An unlikely combination. I agree. It was in a Reconciliation situation. Here is my thought and my comment: Roy Keane went into a big rant in his earlier books. He couldn’t cope with footballers who didn’t take their football seriously. He screamed at the misuse of such a gift. He mentioned where he might be if  he hadn’t escaped that life, due to football. He was also critical of Niall Quinn. Roy felt that Niall took his skill for granted and saw it all as fun.

CONFESSION:

Now I’ll ramble over to Augustine. His view of Confession was along these lines:  Confession wasn’t and can’t be a recital of sin. It has to be a reflection of gratitude. To think of what God has done in our lives. To see how God has worked in us. To be overwhelmed with this surprise and this wonderful grace. And then to bow our heads in awe. So the real ‘sin’ is not noticing. Not being aware. Roy wanted everyone to use their skill and to realise the gift it was. Augustine wants us to carry out the ambition God has for each of us, and to be grateful and humble on this Holy Ground and our own Burning Bush. These views might take us away from the old concept of Confession and might lead us to be the leaders in spreading the ‘Good News’ and the ‘Good News’ of Jesus Christ, as people marketing the positive and the greatness of God.

Seamus Ahearne osa   10^th December 2025.