I did something today that I don't very often do these days.

 

I travelled by train.

 

For a good twenty six years I was born and bred in the lovely little city of Canterbury. It has the awesome cathedral that dominates the skyline, tremendous architecture that highlights its sense of history and a wonderfully cosmopolitan feel created by the vast array of nationalities that visit this beautiful city.

 

These days I live some thirty miles away in a very picturesque small market town buried deep in The Weald of Kent. I express deep gratitude that I live and have lived in some glorious places.

 

My car was in for service today and the garage that I use is in Canterbury. There aren't many Peugeot dealerships that close to where I now live and this particular garage have provided a decent service in the past. In fact there has been a car dealership on this site for many, many decades now; my mother worked there when she first left school.

 

After I dropped the car off for its 48 000 mile service I then had to get myself to London for a meeting. So I caught the train from the station just two minutes walk from the garage. I hadn't used this station for something like thirty years when, as a teenager, I used to travel regularly to see my favourite football team – Gillingham – play. This in itself brought back some fond memories but what really took my breath away was the scenery that I observed as the train journeyed away from the houses and industrial units that skirt the city.

 

The sun shined that deep amber glow that typifies the season of autumn. The orange, brown and red hues that adorned the trees rested easy on my eyes as I reflected on this, my favourite time of year. The train meandered between the rolling hills that were a patchwork of grazing land with their cattle and sheep, ploughed fields waiting peacefully for their next crop and orchards that had not to many weeks ago been abundantly full of fruit. The majestic sight of cowls  perched on top of oast houses peered up from the valleys giving a reminder of Kent's rich heritage with the hop and brewing industry. Unfortunately hop fields have been on the decline for decades now in Kent, so it was a splendid treat to still see a few dotted around the glorious countryside. Although stripped bare of their train of hops, I was still reminded of their smell that permeated the air during their harvest month of September. It was one of those smells that you either loved or hated. Personally I used to love it.

 

The whole scene provided me with a sense of serenity, a warm glow of satisfaction. I could see how wonderful god's creation still is and always will be.

There is abundance out there for everybody if we choose to look for it and receive it. These rich and fertile farm lands, not just in Kent, but the world over can provide food for every one. Surely with the right desire and the will, there is no need for any body to go hungry.

 

There are many reasons to be positive, much good to be observed in this world.

Viewing the fields of Kent from the window of a train is just one of so many.

 

Terry Norrington

 

www.getselfconfident.com