Tag: Gill Henwood photos

God paints a picture with snow

Dark trees magical with snow. Beeches, and old hawthorns by the gate. High Cross, above Coniston, photographed by Gill Henwood

It’s sometimes said to children that when there is thunder in the sky, God is applauding us for something good we’ve done. The alternative, too often said, is that God is angry with us and is stamping his feet.
It all depends if you want God to control or free us. No contest in my opinion. I always respond best to applause!.

I find that linking God and the weather is a kind of reminder that we have little control over how the weather behaves on our planet, except in an all too negative way. I say this as one who, for a brief time, was the Clerk of the Weather, in a highly acclaimed thespian production when I was a junior school. For an all too brief time I had total control over the weather and wore a Top Hat to prove it! So thereI was, throwing around thunderbolts, lightning flashes, howling winds, raindrops and sunshine, as all obeyed my orders. (To be honest, Tom Culshaw was fairly negative in his response so there wasn’t much hail around that day!)
Of course, all too quickly, I had to hand the authority  back to God but I like to think that for a short while after he treated me kindly for doing my best, even though this coincided with a lot of weather!

We’ve been having quite a bit of it lately too, and it came as a shock recently when Spring’s steady progress was rudely interrupted by a sudden return to ice and snow, cold and frost.
Even so, though it could be both inconvenient and treacherous, the dusting of ice and the covering of nature with snow, has a very special effect on our landscape.

I was reminded of this when my friend Gill sent me photos of the Lake District just after God had painted a picture with the snow. God has such a delicate touch and an eye for detail.  Just for a short while we were taken into a glimpse of beauty which if transient is nonetheless breathtaking. Soon we shall move on to look at Nature’s Gallery, where God will hang the Springscapes. 
For now, we can pause and take in God’s picture painted in snow.

We can say, again, with St. John of the Cross that
God passes through the thicket of this world, and wherever His glance falls, he turns all things to beauty.
I like that truth!

Meanwhile, here’s a reminder of that in the photos Gill has taken.

Meadowsweet. .As never seen before! Seed heads left for the winter on a verge. Photo: Gill Henwood
On the edge of the white wood. Photo by Gill

A Collage of Spring

Snowdrops unfurling perhaps? This photo was taken by my friend Gill Henwood in her garden in the Lake District.

As we herald the unwrapping of Nature as Spring approaches, we have been delighted by, first, the cyclamen and then the snowdrops and winter Iris. Now it is the turn of Daffodil and crocus. So we say Thank You to the bell of Mary as she peals out winter or, should that be, as she ‘nods’ us towards Spring. Gill says the nodding snowdrops remind her of the Hymn, The Lord of the Dance.

Dance then, wherever you may be for I am the Lord of the dance said he.

It has been a joy to see, during the difficult and dark lockdown, the great signs of hope and colour and joy that are being painted by Nature. God is reminding us that we have so much to look forward to and so much to be grateful for, no matter what has been plaguing our lives. We should hold on to Captain Tom Moore’s favourite saying – repeated here in Nature –

Tomorrow will be a Good Day.

Below is a collage of spring from Gill’s garden though she is not responsible for the arranging. It may not, therefore be perfect but it is heartfelt. To borrow a phrase from Gill – this is a picture of sheer exuberance and delight.

First, here is a lovely Prayer to Spring by Robert Frost

Please notice the first Cumbrian bee of Spring! tomorrow will be a good day, full of honey!

[Mr G]