It would be all too easy to sink into a sense of almost total despondency about political developments in Northern Ireland.
The assembly is an increasingly distant memory and, while speculation ebbs and flows, the British government seems unable to give any official indication about a possible date for our postponed elections.
Disputes within Ulster Unionism have seriously undermined the chances of reaching an understanding between the main parties, while long-awaited and essential republican initiatives on paramilitary weapons and policing have been allowed to slip down the agenda.
Dissident republicans are still trying to murder their fellow Irish citizens and some sections of loyalism remain as volatile as ever.
However, at the risk of tempting fate, it needs to be pointed out that ordinary people in what have been regarded as interface areas have been giving an outstandingly positive example to our politicians.
Apart from some isolated confrontations, sectarian violence has arguably been at its lowest summer level for 35 years.
This is a remarkable achievement, which has most certainly not come about by accident.
Community leaders on both sides of the divide have worked a round the clock to prevent trouble from breaking out in the first place and to bring it to a swift end when it does occur.
In the past, relatively small incidents have spiralled into full-scale riots within a frighten-ingly short period.
Over recent months, circumstances which have the potential to develop in such a way have regularly been defused at an early stage.
Some tensions associated with the marching season obviously remain in place, but they have simply not been permitted to bring a range of neighbourhoods, and in some previous cases an entire city, to a standstill.
No-one knows what tomorrow will bring, but the informal structures which are now in place have proved that they are capable of dealing with most eventualities.
All those involved in this process have displayed great courage and deserve enormous credit for their efforts, even though most prefer to remain well away from the public spotlight.
They have provided the foundations for a new era of understanding between the two traditions and, in doing so, sent out a powerful message to our politicians.
