Badger in Latton Garden. Photograph by Revd. Lynn Hurry
The badger was a night time visitor in her garden and Introduces herself.
“ I try not to show my face too often. It isn’t always wise or safe. As you see I have a rather distinctive face. It’s the broad white stripe that gives it away! I am told that it serves a purpose. It’s a sign of my knowledge and insight into matters not easily accessible to other animals on earth.
One of my special attributes is my strong jaws. This is very useful because it makes it easier to chew and also, when required, to snap and bite at those other animals who like to throw their weight around. A much more useful thing is that my jaws help me to habit the mysteries of the Word’, which is a pretentious way of saying how I reveal the ‘magic of storytelling.’
When needed, I give away generously to people, a magical word which is the way I guide people who are looking for beauty, encouragement and a more open mind especially when they seek a differing direction and purpose in life which otherwise deludes them. I use the word, story’ in a sense of helping others to listen to that inner voice whereby God speaks. I am part of that spirit-filled creation which leads people to embrace courage and independence and so cultivate a tenacity which shows the importance of holding on when running away and hiding would feel much safer.
Drawing from my own characteristics and a tendency to dig deeper into the soil of the earth, I am able to show other members of God’s creation how to embrace untapped potential and take that journey all of us must take if we are to become our true selves under God.
I have this story to tell from the heart of my being and it has inspired a number of important people to use me as a character in their writings. The late eighteenth century poet, John Clare, wrote of me in a poem entitled Badger. At a time when many humans were cruel to animals, he took my tenacious character and wove it into a poem which emphasizes endurance and resistance rather than then being a victim. Beatrix Potter, in her Tale of Mr Tod, was less kind of me, speaking of my curiously, earthy voice in a dismissive way. She called me Tommy Brock By then, I was being referred to as Broc which actually was my Celtic Name and really only meant ‘grey.’. That nice Mr Graham, who wrote the delightful book, Wind in the Willows, called me a “wise and kind badger” though he did say that I could be bossy at times, by which he meant that I was forthright!
Things are not always what they seem and humans are not the be all and end all of creation. Each of us animals have insights, hopes and loves to offer as we share in shaping Creation. Each of us is made by God and we are Icons of His presence in the world. We are all filled with God’s Spirit and signs of the totality of His loving being. Increasingly we need to see that truth and treat Creation and the Created order in a new and more grateful way, all of us as part of God’s story of pure love.
Many the gifts, many the people, many the hearts that yearn to belong. Let us be servants to one another, making your kingdom come. (Bernadette O’Farrell)
[Mr G, a visiting Badger and The Revd.Lynn Hurry] 30th April 2026
[Based on a sermon by Piers Northam and adapted and added to by Mr G.]
This week we, in the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth, have commemorated the Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Elizabeth II (our longest reigning Monarch) who would have celebrated her Centenary on April 21st. She died in 2022.
At the time of her death, our present King – Charles III – wrote:
‘The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family. We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.’
In his message we can note a holding together of the two things: the personal and the shared. The Royal Family were mourning a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother; and we as a Nation were mourning the death of our Sovereign – who for many of us at the time was the only one we’ve ever known – but one with whom so many of us feel a strong, personal connection.
At the Platinum Jubilee, just before her death, the then Prince Charles began his speech ‘Your Majesty… Mummy…’ to huge applause. For Queen Elizabeth inhabited both those roles and in so doing, she became the person who drew us together as a worldwide family – through national ties, but also through ties across the Commonwealth and beyond. She inspired love and that drew people of all races, colours, creeds and classes together. This was her gift and, in her way, she made possible a drawing together of people.
She not only brought people together but also, through her historic ancestry was a link with many previous generations. She had clearly defined links to Queen Victoria and further back to Margaret of Scotland – the sister of Henry VIII. Her bloodline was well established. It brought with it a right to rule but this right was tied with both responsibility and accountability. No one, with power to govern, either elected or inherited, can avoid accountability which defines how they act and how that action is carried out in service for others. This is very important in our present day when some world leaders are wielding power for their own ends and with no real sense of care for others. Queen Elizabeth did not rely on right or might. What defined her was not bloodline, but rather, loveline.
For Queen Elizabeth the Loveline had its roots in God and in an Almighty Love which has a global outreach – and one that extends beyond humanity to all of Creation.
Queen Elizabeth gladly accepted that God’s love is for each and every one of us, his beloved children who, through Jesus are drawn into a global and eternal family of love. She expressed this in terms of a belonging together as a community under God, remembering that community is about holding our world in a common unity. Her Majesty, in her Christmas broadcasts, clearly proclaimed her belief in the importance of community: In 2001 she said this:
‘I believe that strong and open communities matter both in good times as well as in bad. Certainly they provide a way of helping one another. Communities also give us an important sense of belonging which is a compelling need in all of us. We all enjoy moments of great happiness and suffer times of profound sadness; the happiness is heightened, the sadness softened when it is shared. But there is more than that. A sense of belonging to a group, which has in common the same desire for a fair and ordered society, helps to overcome differences and misunderstanding by reducing prejudice, ignorance and fear. We all have something to learn from one another, whatever our faith… whatever our background, whether we be young or old.’
But her understanding went further than that, as she said in 2007:
Jesus of Nazareth reached out and made friends with people whom others ignored or despised. It was in this way that he proclaimed his belief that, in the end, we are all brothers and sisters in one human family.
Our humanity alongside our responsibility for the Care of all Creation is rooted and grounded in Love which flows from the Love of God.
For Queen Elizabeth this became an essential part of her loveline which she expressed in two ways. One is that she had a deep interest and love for people. At an individual level, so many have talked of how when they met her, she paid them her full attention; really listening to them; entirely focused on them during their exchange. There is that sense that in so doing, she honoured their identity, openly and without judgement.
The other theme is the way that at a national and international level, she was able to draw us together; to point to something bigger than our own private concerns. Her ability to forge a connection with us; to show her love and care and concern for us in that long life of service – service to the Nation, the Commonwealth and the wider global community;– helped us to feel that vital sense of connection to each other; helped us to see beyond ourselves and give us a sense of belonging. In our deeply fragmented world both internationally and locally, we need to take those words, which are the essence of who Elizabeth was, and cherish them deeply in our own hearts.
All this sprang from her profound faith and trust in God.
This must be something we seek for our own lives and what we should expect and demand from others. Not least from those in leadership who act in ungodly ways whilst pretending to believe they have some kind of Divine right to behave as they do! Not least those who have the temerity to believe they might have some claim to a Godliness which couldn’t be further from the truth.
Reflection on the Saints, their actions, prayers and faith has always been an helpful way of shaping our own lives and souls. Queen Elizabeth lived a saintly life (indeed, for me she is a worthy candidate for for Canonization!) and as we seek a way out of the present morass of our world, we would do well to ponder on her example, values and faith.
Here’s how we may set about doing it:
by following her example;
by trusting in the goodness of God and his ability to do great things;
by looking beyond ourselves to others;
by seeking to draw all people into family;
by honouring each of God’s beloved children who are our brothers and sisters;
So, here’s a blessing prayer which was a favourite one of Queen Elizabeth’s.
Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honour all people; love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus had finished his work on earth and returned to heaven, the archangel Gabriel met him and said, “Lord, is it permitted to ask what plans you have made for carrying on your work on earth? “I have chosen twelve men and some women,” Jesus replied, “they will pass my message on until it reaches the whole world.” “But” said Gabriel, “supposing those few people fail you, what other plans have you made?Jesus smiled. “I have no other plan, “he said, “I’m counting on them.”
There is no plan B – Jesus entrusted his message of eternal love and salvation to a motley band of chosen people whose track record, to say the least, was questionable.
I wouldn’t dream, of course, of questioning my Lord Jesus’ arrangements to bring the love of God to a world increasingly in need but, because of that state of things on earth just now, I might be permitted to wonder if he might have regretted leaving things in our incapable hands!
The story of humanity is not always a good one and our reliability cannot always be taken for granted. Too often we allow despots, tyrants and self-absorbed groups to take over Creation and wage battle for power, self-interest and self-will. At present I suggest that there are a small group of people who believe it is their right to make life impossible for others and who are responsible for many of the wars, pain, conflicts and the mess our world seems to be in. What is worse is that we are letting them do this either because groups of people are following a shared ideology or believe in a warped vision.
Yet, we know the truth that for evil to prosper, good people simply have to do nothing. That was never part of the plan of Jesus to build a world founded on mutual love, peace, truth justice or compassion.
At a House Group I am part of, it was suggested that in the face of the current violence, death and pain, we are called to stand up and be counted as each of us is part of God’s Plan. If the billions of believers in God, however their faith is expressed or practiced, were to stand up and collectively say, “No! This will not do. We don’t accept your false and demonic vision. You neither speak for us nor represent the Will of God for the World nor all that draw life from it – and that means the whole of Creation from the tiniest insect to the tallest tree. We are, after all, merely travellers through this world and at best, its custodians.”
Thankfully, in the face of the evil which afflicts our world, God does have Plan B and it is the same as Plan A – it rests on us. In many different ways, languages, environments, we who believe in God have the message of eternal love and salvation; of peace and justice; of compassion; of kindness and all those things which deepen the quality of life and fulfil the nature of what it means to be human ~ truly human which is a lot about developing Godliness. God’s Plan, though often thwarted, is never abandoned and a major part of it is how he uses people to remind us of the true values of life, of love, of concern for others.
On February 7th the Christian Church celebrates the faith of a group of early Christian saints – St Felicity, St Perpetua and their Companions. They were ordered to be put to death for their persistence in proclaiming Jesus Christ as their Lord, when the pagan rulers of the Roman Empire wanted to make an example of them, in order to warn others not to disobey the Emperor. It all went rather wrong because this small group of women simply refused to live the lie of a corrupt society. One story of Perpetua is that her father begged her to renounce her faith and her reply to him was:
“Father, do you see this vase or water-pot here, for example , could it be called by any other name than what it is?” He said,” No,” and Perpetua replied, “Well, so too I cannot be called anything other than what I am ~ a Christian.”
Instead of renouncing her belief in God her words were to strengthen many, many others, in holding on to their Christian faith at a time when it would have been so easy to turn one’s back on God…
Throughout history, God has faced the wickedness of the world and counteracted its falseness through those who, like Perpetua, are unwavering in showing God’s truth and love, peace and justice – simply by being who they are, the beloved of God. It strengthened people in dark times and goes on doing so still. When the world is up against it, people are sent by God to lead us away from darkness into light. People who remind us that life can and must be lived in a different way and with greater, purer, values. Today, I detect that God has sent us just such a person in Pope Leo. He is speaking God’s words through his own prayer, spirituality and understanding of a world which needs leading back to God’s ways. God is counting on him just as he is counting on all of us who take great strength from what God is telling us through him.
Comes the hour, comes the True messenger of God. We are bidden to hear God speaking through him.
I follow with deep concern what is happening in the Middle East and Iran in these dramatic hours. Stability and peace are not built with mutual threats nor with weapons which sow destruction, pain and deathbut only through reasonable, authentic and responsible dialogue. Faced with the possibility of a tragedy of enormous proportions, I address both parties involved a heartfelt appeal to assume the moral responsibility to stop the spiral of violence before it becomes an irreparable abyss! May diplomacy recover its role and may the good of people be promoted; peoples who long for peaceful co-existence founded on justice – and let us continue to pray for peace.”
Photos by Gill Henwood of Hellebore & Rhododendron in her Lakeland Garden
The short period between the end of the Christmas Season (at Candlemass on February 2nd) and Lent, is known in the Church as ‘Ordinary Time’. As far as Nature is concerned this is very far from the truth. In the Western Hemisphere and particularly in Europe we are moving into the season of Spring. Though in many parts of Europe it has been a particularly stormy and wet period of late, there are many signs that there is new life emerging from the earth.
The photos which my friend Gill Henwood has sent show “hellebores in full flower and an early rhododendron.” She says that “both were budding before Christmas and, so far, have weathered frost and wind”, not forgetting hares which have turned their attention towards other plants this year! The Christmas Box plant has been wafting beautiful scent throughout Cristmastide. The aroma is fabulous even on dark mornings and dark night walks in the garden. For Gill, this is a reminder of the Frankincense of Christmas.
The ‘Greening’ of the earth which Gill’s photos point to is being experienced through the emergence of buds and bulbs shooting on branches and in the soil. Crocus and daffodil are close behind. My tulips are pushing leaves through the top of the pots, seeking the breath of light and life. This morning, near the church path, buds and a dusting of green spoke to me of God’s amazing creative activity. This Winter has been harsh for many and the world situation is so dire that there is a need for us to re-focus.
Right on cue we can fill our lungs with a breath of hope and wonder. We can find joy in the singing of the birds and soon the animal kingdom will fill our fields, forests & woodlands and gardens with new life. Bees and butterflies, insects and worms will populate our gardens, hedgerows,lakes and ponds. So much new life and growth will teem and swirl, dance full of life and reach to heaven as the trees prepare to become shade and homes and hiding places for all manner of creation..
And we? The Spirituality of Nature lifts our souls from creation to Creator. All this is gift from our giving God! And in a mutual thanksgiving, our part is to be custodians and stewards of the earth, living in deep friendship with Creation, Nature, and with all who allow us to share this earth with them.
Mr G's Ponderings 