Warton Tarn, English Lake District, photographed by Gill Henwood.
My friend, Gill, sent me this beautiful photo which I want to share with you. This is what she said about it.
Shimmering in the late afternoon sun. The tarn is below High Cross, the pass over Hawkshead Hill towards Coniston. Rarely visited by comparison with nearby Tarn How’s. A delightful, wild tarn fringed with perfumed bog myrtle, with water lilies ringing the shallows. Nesting in the waving birch, willow and reeds. Badgers visit at night too…
Very peaceful in the light breeze and western sun – after the cold wet windy week. Hope!
God of new beginnings we pray that you will transform your world, our country, our neighbours, ourselves, as you renew us by your love. Give us a vision of your creation, wide, inviting, beckoning, that we may travel hopefully and with eager anticipation that through faith and with your blessing we may be empowered and inspired to work together to build a better, more just and fairer world; where all may be sustained by the peace of Christ and live in harmony with each other and with the planet you have given to us as our temporary dwelling place on our journey to your Kingdom Amen.
Evelyn Underhill, an image from Pleshey Retreat House.
Evelyn Underhill – remembered in the prayer of the Church of England, today, 15th June.
In the first five decades of the twentieth century, Evelyn Underhill was, perhaps, one of the most widely read writers on prayer and the spiritual life. The first woman ever invited to give a series of lectures in religion at Oxford, she was a fellow of Kings College, London, and in 1938 received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Aberdeen University. She wrote two of the most definitive books on Worship and on Mysticism which are still classics today. She was influenced in her writing by her spiritual friend and mentor, Baron Friedrich Von Hugel.
It was, however, as a retreat director and spiritual guide that she became best known and loved.
Evelyn made her first retreat at Pleshey Retreat House in the Diocese of Chelmsford. This was during Ascensiontide in 1921. She led her first retreat at Pleshey during Lent in 1924. The invitation for her to so came from the then Warden, Lucy Menzies, a personal friend. For the next decade or so she was, arguably, the most distinguished Retreat Conductor of that time. She loved the Retreat House at Pleshey which, she wrote after her first retreat here, ‘seems soaked in love and prayer,’ and many of her retreats each year were conducted here.
A prolific writer, many first editions of Evelyn’s work can be viewed at Pleshey, and today there is a great resurgence of interest in her work and teaching on spirituality. Evelyn may take credit for establishing the place of retreats in the spirituality of the Anglican church in this country, and still today, many people come to the tiny Essex village from all over the world to see the place she loved, breathe the prayer-filled air she breathed, and, perhaps, sense her presence still in the great communion of saints which is so important to our past and our future.
Of the Saints, Evelyn wrote, “If we ask of the saints how they achieved spiritual effectiveness, they are only able to reply that, insofar as they did it themselves, they did it by love and prayer! That is a good and apt reflection on her.
Water bubbling upin Pleshey garden behind the Chapel. Photo: Mr G
Growing in Prayer
Do not entertain the notion that you ought to advance in your prayer. If you do, you will only find you have put on the brake instead of the acceleration. All real progress in spiritual things comes gently, imperceptibly, and is the work of God. Our crude efforts spoil it. Know yourself for the childish, limited and dependent soul you are. Remember that the only growth which matters happens without our knowledge and that trying to stretch ourselves is both dangerous and silly. Think of the Infinite Goodness, never of your own state.
– Evelyn Underhill
{There is much information about Evelyn Underhill on the Web. Try the Pleshey Retreat House Website. The website of the Evelyn Association has a wealth of information.}
Daffodils announce Spring. Photo sent by my friend Becs.
International Women’s Day Spring always brings an opportunity to renew our thoughts and actions as we grow in aspirations and new ways of thinking about our approach to life. So this photo became, for me, a symbol of what is at the heart of what the International Women’s Day is seeking to achieve.
The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias – a push towards a gender equal world that is free of bias, discrimination and stereotypes against women. The quest to achieve this involves inspiring inclusion which those organizing today explain in this way. To inspire inclusion means to celebrate diversity and empowerment on International Women’s Day 2024 and beyond. International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. Each year, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the progress made towards gender equality and highlights the work that still needs to be done. In 2024, the campaign theme Inspire Inclusion emphasizes the importance of diversity and empowerment in all aspects of society. This year’s campaign theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected. Inspire Inclusion encourages everyone to recognize the unique perspectives and contributions of women from all walks of life, including those from marginalized communities.
The Church of England’s Mothers’ Union, founded in the 19th Century has consistently worked for these aims and does so now on a global scale. There are branches in many countries of the world, active in encouraging the empowerment of women often in difficult and hostile circumstances. They have suggested that we make this time a moment to pause, contemplate and renew our commitment to advancing gender equality. To this end they offer this prayer below.
Spring Sunrise. Primroses photographed by Gill Henwood
Photo evening calm in the Lake District. Gill Henwood
Begin your prayer there… these words were written some years ago from the Nuns of West Malling in a little book of meditations. They are both simple and profound.
When my friend, Gill Henwood, sent me the photograph from the Lake District which she named, ‘Evening Calm’, I thought the words from West Malling `fitted the view.
Both the photograph and the words are a reminder that whatever the world appears to be right now, it is not all that it is! Gill comments, “I am finding that ‘communing’ with nature gives an eternal perspective in these dark days. The rhythms of light and dark, stars, moon and sun, budding flowers and trees all speak of a deeper creating. Love embedded in this world of human failure and violence reminds me that there are millions of fellow travellers who are people of good heart and faithful service and deep kindness ~ and of course that includes all creatures, like my lovely dogs!!” (Gill)
PS – not forgetting Mr G’s cat Pagli, the sponsor of this Blog.
Mr G's Ponderings 