This time last year, along with countless other people, I was praying for the 33 Chilean miners trapped after a mining accident. Amazingly all of them were rescued alive and reasonably well.
Only a month later 29 miners died in a disaster in New Zealand, and this week 4 died in Wales.
33 lived, 33 died - I didn't know that until I Googled the information.
It's one of those moments when I don't really know what to say, but somehow feel I ought to acknowledge.
Lots of questions that will never find adequate answers - the 'why'? questions especially.
Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.
These words seem to recur in my thinking and writing a lot
Nearly a year on, I wonder how life really is for the Chileans who rejoiced so fulsomely last autumn? Or how those affetced by the New Zealand disaster are rebuilding their lives? And even now, those in Wales, shocked, numb, bewildered, angry, heartbroken...
To remember, to attempt to come alongside, to commend each and every man, and each and every person who loved him, to God's merciful love... that seems about all that can be done.
Thankfully, depsite events of the last year, mine disasters are rare nowadays, but we must not get complacent or forget that behind every statistic is person.
But for all that a small number came through the doors and enjoyed hospitality, scrummy homemade food and good chat. Among them Malawian who arrived yesterday and has come on a scholarship to study drug and alcohol aspects of public health, two oriental students doing business courses, and a few Scots girls. We had some good conversations, enjoyed our time together as young and old shared.
It was a lot of work - many thanks to the team who put it together - but I enjoyed it and think the quality of conversations counted for far more than any measure of quantity. Tomorrow we may have more students arriving to worhsip with us, and I hope they will find the welcome we long to offer them.