I left my house (in a cul-de-sac) to grab a couple of things from a local shop. Outside my house, blocking one of our cars, was a small car parked up, with a care worker in uniform sitting inside. A little strange, but almost certainly early to visit a neighbour with very advanced MS.

I got my few things, and, given the very hot day, I bought a pack of three ice creams for us to enjoy at home. I drove home and the other car was still there. Like a magnet, feeling myself fully ‘in the spirit of the Mariapolis’, it was just obvious what to do! I walked across to the driver, leaning on his open window. Certain I was about to ask him to move, he started the engine.

“It must be hot in there,” I said, “would you like an ice cream?”

Then I noticed that there was a female care worker in the passenger seat. That took care of two of the ice creams. As I stepped back I couldn’t believe it when I noticed, lying down on the back seat, another lady, also in a blue care worker uniform.

“Is she OK or just asleep?” I asked, at which point she sat up.

“Would you like the third ice cream?” I asked.

“No thanks.”

“Are you sure? your friends have taken one.”

”Oh, well, er, yes please.”

I know it’s really a very small thing. But I know, without a doubt, where the impulse, and the courage to approach a stranger with a weird offer, came from. No doubt at all.

The Mariapolis is over… but maybe it’s just beginning!