Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth watches over Prince Louis
“Thank you, gran, for everything.”
Prayer, Church of England 18th Sept 2022
Bring us, O Lord our God, at our last awakening, into the house and gate of heaven that we may enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling but one equal light, no noise nor silence but one equal music, no fears nor hopes but one equal possession, no ends nor beginnings but one equal eternity; in the habitation of your glory and dominion, world without end Amen
(Words by John Donne, priest, poet & Dean of St Paul’s. died 1631)
I have always had a delight in the word, ‘scudding’.
So it pleased me, this morning, to see the wispy, untamed, wind – driven clouds, ‘scudding’ across the sky, pure white against sun-kissed blue.
Quite free in movement and progress, requesting, nor requiring, any action of mine. Shape-changers in a cosmic dance; reminder that this world is not mine to control.
Photo of Red Admiral Butterfly resting on Cedum. (by Gill Henwood)
My friend Gill has sent me the lovely photo of a Red Admiral Butterfly basking on a pink sedum plant. The Cedum is noted for the bountiful provision of nectar, hence the attraction. Or is it just that?
A few years ago, a very dear friend died and within a very short period, a Peacock Butterfly had made its way into the home. It wasn’t the most seasonal time of year for such a butterfly but it stayed around.
There is a view in folklore that when someone special dies, a butterfly will come quietly to the home. It is as if the butterfly touches you with some kind of assurance that your Loved one are OK. It is usually someone who has brought passion or deep love into your life. I’ve read that such a person is often someone who knew how to live life deeply.
This fits in with the colour red. Both the Peacock butterfly and the Red Admiral have touches of Red, though to be accurate, most of the Red Admiral is black and some of the colour splashes are orange.
Because, quite often, the Read Admiral and the Peacock fly close to and even on you, people sometimes talk about being blessed. You are certainly unlikely to miss them with their striking colours! It might be also that thinking about how the Butterfly flight is linked with someone who has died, then there may well be a message to contemplate.
There is a Christian interpretation about the colour red which links life here with life in heaven. Red is the colour the Church uses to convey the dynamism of the Holy Spirit. The tongues of flames at Pentecost are, like flame itself, tinged deeply with red. This is also the colour of love and God pours His love abundantly and freely upon us. This is particularly special when we are hurting and bereft. Red also is the colour of ‘martyrdom’ , witness. That the kind of ‘witness’ that draws its strength from the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross.
Two of the things many have been doing over the past week since Our Gracious Sovereign Lady, Queen Elizabeth died is to ‘reflect’ on her guiding principles, faith and character as we ‘give gratitude’ for her life. It is partly those two things which encourage us to pray for King Charles and all who will share with him in the true leadership of our United Kingdom and Commonwealth.
As we form our hopes for the future so we now entrust Queen Elizabeth into God’s hands, in the certain hope that she will receive the gift of Eternal Life. That’s the kind of assurance God likes to give so maybe the Butterfly has a calling card to leave!
The Queen with Lily of the Valley flowers copyright Getty Images
Faber & Faber, publishing House is pleased to share a new poem by Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, ‘Floral Tribute’, marking the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Floral Tribute by Simon Armitage:
“Evening will come, however determined the late afternoon, Limes and oaks in their last green flush, pearled in September mist. I have conjured a lily to light these hours, a token of thanks, Zones and auras of soft glare framing the brilliant globes. A promise made and kept for life – that was your gift – Because of which, here is a gift in return, glovewort to some, Each shining bonnet guarded by stern lance-like leaves. The country loaded its whole self into your slender hands, Hands that can rest, now, relieved of a century’s weight.
Evening has come. Rain on the black lochs and dark Munros. Lily of the Valley, a namesake almost, a favourite flower Interlaced with your famous bouquets, the restrained Zeal and forceful grace of its lanterns, each inflorescence A silent bell disguising a singular voice. A blurred new day Breaks uncrowned on remote peaks and public parks, and Everything turns on these luminous petals and deep roots, This lily that thrives between spire and tree, whose brightness Holds and glows beyond the life and border of its bloom.”
Simon Armitage, The Poet Laureate. September 13th 2022
From the BBC :
Floral Tribute, by Simon Armitage, is written through the metaphor of the lily of the valley – one of the late Queen’s favourite flowers, which appeared in her coronation bouquet. The first letter of each line spells out “Elizabeth” when taken together. Simon told BBC Radio 4 Today’s programme he tried to be “personal and write a poem of condolence but without being intrusive”. Comprised of two verses, Floral Tribute describes the coming of a September evening and the appearance of a lily as “a token of thanks”. In the first stanza, Armitage writes of “A promise made and kept for life – that was your gift”. Explaining his decision to employ the acrostic technique and spell out the late Queen’s name, Armitage said: “It’s a lovely name but a name she probably rarely got to hear very much because everybody had to preface that with ceremonial nominals.” Simon told the Today programme the poem was an opportunity to do something “outside of the language and commentaries we’ve already heard”.
Lily of the Valley; Queen Elizabeth’s favourite flower
Mr G's Ponderings 