One of the joys of the Lake District is the spectacular landscape and, of course, the changing reflections of the seasons. My friend Gill lives in the heart of it all which is a privilege she recognises. Her photography provides me with a lot of inspiration for Blog items. The theme of these two photographs is dewdrops and buds They also capture something of the change from Autumn to Winter. There is also a hint of the Advent theme of Light.
Here’s what Gill has to say:
On birch in Grizedale Forest, misty sunlight shines through the dew. Nature’s Advent with sparkling jewels. Light dazzling on bare branches above the russet bracken. Looking closely, each dewdrop hangs from a bud … There is more… There is hope, promise, presence, glory – Advent longing .. The trees and shiny dewdrops call to mind Christmas tree candles, St Lucy’s crown lights and Advent Carol tea lights, The Advent ring.
The darkness is pinpricked with moments of light as we move through this season towards the glorious light of the Incarnation – the birth of the Christ-child. The birth which comes with the renewal of our lives through new hope, joy and expectancy…. In the gloom of our present world we long for the bright presence of God to spring us into a deeper meaning of our humanity. A meaning of which Nature shows us signs of being almost here in bud and dewdrop and in Advent waiting.
Photographs by Gill Henwood – Autumn in the Lake District
Visitors to Chelmsford Cathedral this autumn were able to experience an astronaut’s view of the world when the stunning ‘Gaia’ artwork came to Essex.
Measuring six metres in diameter and created from 120dpi detailed NASA imagery of the Earth’s surface, ‘Gaia’ provided the opportunity to see the planet in its entirety as it slowly revolved in the nave of Chelmsford Cathedral, accompanied by a surround-sound composition by BAFTA award winning composer Dan Jones.
The Exhibition was held in conjunction with an inaugural Science Festival, providing an opportunity for people of all ages to be inspired and to discover the fascinating world of science. This had the support of Essex County Council’s Climate Action Fund and Anglia Ruskin University.
The Exhibition was attended by large numbers if people including many children and young people. It provided an opportunity for people of all ages to be inspired and to discover the fascinating world of science.
The context of the Cathedral lent another dimension which by nature of the faith professed within and outside the walls of the building is a visible reminder of the things of God, His care, love and compassion holds us all close to His heart.
The concern for the earth God has created is something many of us are sharing in the face of climate change and the many unusual weather and climate events which are afflicting us. As I looked quietly at the globe, lit from within and suspended two metres above our heads (more if like many children you lay on your back looking up.), I saw the immensity of our planet, poised in space. It is the vulnerability of both it and us which struck me forcibly. This fragile earth and gift of God needs our responsible care and deep stewardship. I saw more. Seeing the planet in this way it struck me just how much water covers the surface and, by comparison, how little land. On what is quite obviously, a finite and limited area, there is no room for warfare, exploitation, Nimbyism, selfishness and greed. We don’t own any of it. We share the earth with everyone and every creature. We share it all with Nature. So,we have got to change the way we see everything and everyone. We can no longer leave it to a few, often incompetent, Governments. We certainly cannot allow a handful of less than a dozen dictators to impose their will on millions of others and destroy livelihoods, homes and habitats at will. How dare we allow that to happen and do nothing!
As I write COP27 is in progress in Egypt. Whether it will actually make progress remains to be seen. Yet we all have a part to play in this process. We cannot allow them to destroy innicent livesThose of us who serve God as our Creator, Lord and Spiritual guide – however we express that – can and must pray. Prayer is not a last resort but a first Resource.
Below is a prayer written by Pope Francis, to start us off.
A Prayer for our Earth
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures. You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love, that we may protect life and beauty. Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it, that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.
Amen
Prayer of Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
#####
The words in italics at the beginning of this article is drawn from Chelmsford Cathedral’s website. Below is an explanation of Gaia
Since the 1970s James Lovelock developed the Gaia hypothesis, named after the ancient Greek goddess of the Earth (See GAIA). As originally conceived the ‘Gaia’ concept envisages the Earth as a super-organism that operates to regulate its own environment, principally temperature, to keep it habitable for the biosphere.
Photo: detail of ceiling at the church of St Germain des Prés, Paris. [Mr G]
One of my pastimes is to be a ‘groupie’ with a local choir which includes friends. Last weekend we went to Paris where they presented two concerts and a musical involvement in the Saturday Mass at St Sulpice. It is currently acting as the Cathedral whilst Notre Dame is being restored. At the first concert, in the church of St Germain des Prés, some of the sopranos noticed a spider hovering over the choir as they sang. It had travelled quite a distance from the ceiling but by the end of the concert, it had disappeared. So I wrote this poem….
A Spider goes to a Concert.
Down came the Spider Abseiling intrepidly, hanging by its own thread, precariously, from the church roof. It stops. Hovering over music ascending from collective voices. Sounds made by practiced singers. “Look, a Spider”, a soprano points out between pieces. but the Concert builds to its final crescendo. No time to spend on Spiders. As the music fades, the concert ends and the Spider is gone.
Not a Spider at all, but an Angel, taking up the music to heaven, for God to enjoy!
[Mr. G.]
Inspired by a spider who came to a concert by The Felicitas Choir at the church of St Germain des prés Paris. 27th Oct 2022)
All Hallows’ Eve – a time to Sparkle with light and love.
‘The Feast of All Pumpkins’ was one of the slightly irreverent names give by some to Harvest Festival. Judging from the decorations which fill our shops, pubs and many homes, it is presumably a description that we could apply also to Halloween. Once again this is a day which has been hijacked by commercial interest and turned into something that was never intended. ‘Trick or Treat’ could be seen as a bit of harmless fun – taking over from Guy Fawkes night. After all what does the tradition of lighting a fire and setting off fireworks on November 5th mean to most people today? – outside England, very little. The idea of blowing up Parliament would never occur to us today. Of course not!
The problem is that Halloween has long been associated with the occult, black magic and the darker side of life. A concentration on mock horror can quickly turn into real horror. A concentration on the dark side of life can have a negative effect on life. We are living through some very dark times on our world at present. Ukraine, the energy and cost of living crisis, economic uncertainty throughout the world, drought and famine and the way we are treating refugees, and the poor are all part of a darkness in humanity which creates a negativity that becomes the devil’s playground.
Try reading C S Lewis’s Screwtape Letters if you don’t get what I’m trying to say
However, like all negatives there is an opposite positive and it lies in the name of Halloween itself. ‘Halloween’ means The Eve of All Hallows. The word ‘Hallow’ means ‘Holy’ as in the traditional Lord’s Prayer – ’Hallowed be thy name.’ Halloween is the evening of the Feast Day of the Holy Ones of God – which is another way of describing the Saints.
All Saints’ Day is the glorious feast when we remember the Holy people who have perfumed the world with the fragrance of their holy lives and deep devotion to Christ. So Halloween is a time of preparing for All Saints Day. This is not best done by thinking about ghosts, vampires and witches.
It is best done by quietly reflecting on those people whose faith has influenced our lives and who have shown something of the saintly qualities we are seek to imitate in our own lives. Few of us has grown in faith without the help of good and holy Christians. People who have encouraged us, taught and shown us something about God’s love, and reflected Christ-like love in their own lives. These are the people we should be thinking about at All Hallows and All Saints. Some are now with God and others are still here, quietly showing us what God means to them. We honour them but more than that, we honour Christ whom they show us.
A better use of Halloween is to praise God for such ‘saints’ and to pray that the holiness they show us might become a quality in our own lives.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Mr G's Ponderings 