Where have the golden days gone? The days when the laughter of families could be heard through the park;
the days when young and old enjoyed the rays of autumn sun.
Where have the fearful days gone?
The days when families kept to themselves in the park;
the days when young and old could not venture far from their home?

Where have the golden days gone?
The days when autumn leaves fell in many colours in the soft breeze?
Where have the shortening days gone?
The days when summer was over and the cold nights came.

Where have the golden days gone?
The days we breathed the clear, quiet air of the morning;
the days when nature was invited to our cities.
Where have the sad days gone?
The days we could not go to mountain, lake or beach;
the days when our horizon of the world was limited.

Where have the golden days gone?
The days when walkways were full of pedestrians and cyclists drove leisurely past;
the days when everyone was greeted with a nod and a smile.
Where have the fearful days gone?
The days when people gave a wide berth to children, potential carriers of disease;
the days when we did not dare to help up a child that fell from a bike.

Where have the golden days gone?
The days when we could walk our streets, when we were not threatened by a tonne of metal;
the days when buses ran a regular, timely service.
Where have the unreal days gone?
The days when we were afraid to roam far from our house,
the days when buses ran empty.

Where have the hopeful days gone?
The days we thought that good would come out of crisis;
the days we thought that we would come together.
Where have the fearful days gone?
The days we feared for our economic and personal future;
the days each person fought for their own survival.

Where have the exciting days gone?
The days when we rang our families more often;
the days when we discovered new ways of communication.
Where have the lonely days gone?
The days when we could not meet each other in person;
the days when we longed for a normal conversation.

Where have the fruitful days gone?
The days when children learned at home and came along in leaps and bounds;
the days when work long put off was finally done.
Where have the broken days gone?
The days when children could not see their friends or grandparents;
the days when new routines meant that little was achieved.

Where have the golden days gone?
The days we said, “I’m glad I’m here with you.”
Where have the sad days gone? The days we could not farewell a loved one.

Where have the days of worship discovery gone?
The days of on-line sermons and on-line worship;
the days of encourage-mints and candle prayers.
Where have the days of broken community gone?
The days we could not worship together;
the days when church was lived far apart.

Where have the days gone?
Our days, oh Lord, are held in your hands.

Tim