My friend Gill Henwood has been reflecting on Midsummer life in the Lake District, Cumbria.
She sent me her reflection in the form of a poem with a P.S. about Nature at work. When she sent it, we were all awaiting the August Summer Storm christened by the weather people as Floris. The North of England, the whole of Scotland and the Western Isles as far as Orkney are bearing the brunt of it, but already things are improving in Cumbria.
Gill invites us to ponder on the beauty, stillness and calm, which can so often follow a storm. This is not just true of Nature but also in our own lives too. Sometimes we are buffeted about by what life throws at us but God is always near, ready to throw his rainbow cloak of love in a great arc over us. We do, however, like Elijah in 1 Kings 19, be still to hear and know God is there for you.
Here’s Gill’s poem:

AFTER THE RAIN.  Gill Henwood

The winds are soughing
In the beech tree canopy.
Sound ripples away 
As the waves on a beach.

Lichens reach into the air
Dewdrops and sun
A rich garden 
Growing on the stump.

Badgers have clawed
Bark for grubs,
Dragonflies shimmer
Past, in the sun shafts.

Life is renewed
The seasons turn again
After rain, the sun.
After storms, the calm.

And throughout, the
still 
small 
voice.

1 Kings 19:11-13

P.S.
The dragonfly, emerald and gold, dazzled me. S/he flew on but, having stopped, I looked. Noticed. A miniature garden on the decaying tree stump. Was s/he a fleeting messenger? “Remember, it’s Lammas…”. 
The farmer was baling the hay last night at 10pm, headlights on the tractor, collecting the bales before overnight rain. First fruits, in the sheep-dwelt fells: the grass harvest for winter feed. 
And for all the local creatures of hedges, dry stone walls, woods and tarns: plentiful seeds, berries, nuts, leaves. A harvest festival is quietly underway.

[Lughnasad is the Celtic name for Lammas, time of the ‘first fruits’ of harvest. (Newgrange website) Lammas is the Christian Festival on August 1^st when we give thanks for Harvest that is coming and offer to God the gifts of the Land.]

Gill Henwood
posted by Mr G. 5th August 2025