Dear Friends,
As I write, it is the morning of the General Election and I am also thinking about how I should exercise my democratic right to vote. How I vote is of course between me and the ballot box, so please don’t ask! But I am also thinking about those who find it difficult to exercise their right to vote because provision has not been made for them.
I read an article in a journal this morning about a young lady who had enormous difficulty simply getting into the local voting place at the last local elections. This, I have to say, not here but in a rural village somewhere. There was no disabled parking and she had to manoeuvre herself out of the car into a wheelchair in the middle of a busy road, and someone else had to park the car a distance away. Then when she eventually got into the voting place, she couldn’t reach the table in the booth! Then she had to negotiate the busy road with no pavement to get back to the car. Her article was about how all these difficulties made her feel. It is also important to remember that there are people with hidden disabilities too who struggle to live as normally as possible.
It is important for all of us to remember that behind every face there is a story. We don’t always know that story, and nor do we need to. But it is important that all of us act with kindness and consideration for all people so that all our lives may be as trouble free as possible. And do remember, the longest word in the English language is SMILE – just share more than one!
With love and blessings,
Marion
Categories: Minister's Blog