Fire of love that warms our hearts

HOW sad to read that Sir Anthony Hopkins is so estranged from his daughter he has no idea if he has a grandchild or not. He says: ‘Families split... People make choices. I don’t care one way or the other. It is cold. Because life is cold.’

The noble thespian is talking (defensive) nonsense. Who knows what went on within that family? But what most of us do know is that ‘life’ is not ‘cold’.

Life may be challenging, tough at times, sad, disappointing, often tiring and tedious, sometimes lonely, and many other things. But most of us are also warmed by a flame of love — whether that burns for family, pets, a lover, art, gardening, your personal God, or whatever else lights up the human spirit.

No matter how chilly the winds, we can warm hands at that fire. (And, yes, sometimes that is a matter of choice.)

It’s a week now since a flame lit up Great Britain — as well as much of the world. I’m still warmed by the memory of the glorious Royal Wedding, and I rejoice that fabulous, loquacious, barn- storming Bishop Michael Curry praised the firepower of love. Watching with me, my daughter-in-law said: ‘If our vicars were like that, I’d go to church every week!’ And the next day, our own genial vicar smiled and said, ‘I wish I could preach like that.’ And a (retired) wag in the congregation shouted merrily: ‘So do we!’ Cue shared mirth. Hallelujah!

Thus is the warmth passed on — and in those vast crowds last Saturday it was passed from stranger to stranger.

‘Stand by me,’ sang the cool, pitch-perfect Kingdom Choir, and so did we all, in imagination, sharing (just for a while) the conviction that something good was happening and we were a key part of it.

We also shared an awareness that even when ‘the land is dark’ we will not ‘be afraid’ — as long as we take care of our families, friends, neighbours, community. Nobody says it’s easy. But, Sir Anthony, it sure warms the heart.

Bel answers readers’ questions on emotional and relationship problems each week. Write to Bel Mooney, Daily Mail, 2 Derry Street, london W8 5TT, or email bel.mooney@dailymail.co.uk. A pseudonym will be used if you wish. Bel reads all letters but regrets she cannot enter into personal correspondence.