Another Tweet from my friend Joyce Smith. A reminder to us that at the heart of the gift that God gives us in Jesus is a guarantee, a pledge and a promise by God that His relationship with us, as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is rooted in self-giving Love. A Love which can never be taken from us.
As the first letter of John (4:9-10) assures us:
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent His only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loves us.
And as Pope Francis says – that love is indestructible !
The Langdale Pikes, from a ridge above Tarn Hows. Tom Heights is the ridge in the foreground. English Lakes World Heritage Site. photographed by my friend, Gill Henwood
Winter Fell
Mountain rock dons winter coat of dank, limp-wristed trees, shivering black shadows on gaunt landscape. Forbidding icy grip, peppered with Angel-dust of powdery snow.
Strangely beautiful! welcoming in odd majestic way. Beckoning!
Clouds furls round, scudding over mountain peaks, kissing summits, caressing valleys. Breathtaking! blue-streaked fissures of sky.
Nature senses God’s nearness enfolding Creation turning the earth towards the light and promise of renewed life
The arrival of the Magi, art and reflection by my friend Kay Gibbons
They made it !
What a surprise to turn around and see such finery at the stable door!
Not a cow or an ass but a regal looking guy and his mates( a bit tired and dusty in the starry light) offering gold, no less, and other Christmas smellies – a welcome gift to the Holy family in what must have been a bit of a pongy place!
Sometimes our journey to the stable is long, tiring and we sometimes questions , ‘are we nearly there yet?’ Are we following the right star? Or the right path over the sand dunes? What if He’s not there when we get there?!
Our journeys are often punctuated with many ‘ what ifs’. The 3 ‘Kings’ got there and so can we and the King in the crib will be as happy and as delighted to see us as though we are a gift of gold- even if we feel the gift of ourselves is as small as a pair of Christmas socks!!
This photograph of Winter at Tarns Hows, in the Lake District, was taken by my friend Gill Henwood. It immediately brought to mind the Carol, See, Amidthewinter’s snow. A reminder, too, that as the secular world packs away the Christmas decorations, Christians continue to celebrate the Christmas season, which, like Lent lasts for 40 days and comes to a conclusion on the Feast of Candlemass – February 2nd. I offer this Carol as a continued meditation on the joy of the birth of Jesus, and the photo of God’s incredible brushtrokes as the snow dusts the wonders of nature. Long ago I climbed up to the summit of Helvellyn and saw this view from the other direction though not in winter . The breathtaking beauty is captured in the stillness around the Tarn and the movement of the clouds. For me it becomes an illustration, therefore, of the importance of balancing our activity with stillness.
For many this time of lockdown has provided opportunities, for those so minded and are able, to spend time in quietness and be reminded that we are not required to always be on the go. Indeed, that would be harmful. The psalmist wrote in Psalm 46, Be still and know that I am God. Those battling to nurse and care for patients in hospital, Covid sufferers and those with other life-threatening illnesses, cannot be still, nor those who are caring for people at home. So the call to stillness for those free to sit within it is a call to pray and be still on behalf of others. Prayer is never a last resort in any situation, it is always the first resort. We can do a mighty work just holding people in love to God.
I once questioned a nun about those in her community who were living the life of hermits in Wales. I had the temerity to say that they had it easy. They were free to pray as they wished. In the non-fierce ways that nuns have, she begged to differ! “The hermits are in the front-line of the battle against the demonic and all that is evil and which afflicts the life of our world. We hold them in love to God as they battle against darkness on our behalf.” I remember what she told me almost word for word! Those of us who are able to do the same are doing a great and vital ministry ministry.
May the photo above help us to see what that ministry is. Stillness and contemplation of God together with activity on His behalf in loving others in prayer on His behalf. Especially those whose lives are very dark and very fearful right now.
1 See, amid the winter’s snow, born for us on earth below, see the tender Lamb appears, promised from eternal years.
Refrain: Hail! Thou ever-blessed morn! Hail, redemption’s happy dawn! Sing through all Jerusalem, “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
2 Lo, within a manger lies He who built the starry skies; He, who throned in height sublime, sits amid the cherubim! [Refrain]
3 Say, ye holy shepherds, say, what your joyful news today; wherefore have ye left your sheep on the lonely mountain steep? [Refrain]
4 “As we watched at dead of night, lo, we saw a wondrous light; angels singing ‘Peace on earth’ told us of the Savior’s birth.” [Refrain]
5 Sacred Infant, all divine, what a tender love was Thine; thus to come from highest bliss down to such a world as this! [Refrain]
6 Teach, O teach us, Holy Child, by Thy face so meek and mild, teach us to resemble Thee in Thy sweet humility! [Refrain]
Mr G's Ponderings 