Tag: Vision

Play for us ~ Vision on St. Cecilia’s Day

Play for us!
Vision for St Cecilia’s Day

Play for us, Lord God.
We wish to hear music;
the music of heaven.
Play notes to calm our fears,
soothing our souls from anxiety.

Our world is ripped apart by sounds,
discordant, ugly sounds from the bowels of hell –
bombs, missiles, bullets, tanks, cries of painful death –
Guttural sounds of soldiers.
many far from home, tired too, hungry.
bewildered, disillusioned.

Ordered about by those whose only tunes are hatred.
a cacophony of crashing disharmony –
flowing from cankered, disfigured hearts
no longer united with the music
of the One who created them.

Wars begin in hearts crumpled by demonic blackness.
Is this hell?
Despair. The concerto of annihilation.
No symphony.
No sympathy.

But, if You, Lord, play music to us,
It will find a way to soothe and
caress our troubled souls.
Help us to hear the beautiful harmony
as you sprinkle note upon note
of your kindness and love upon us,
enfolding, holding, re-awakening our vision.

As your music lifts our hearts
towards the orchestra of heaven.
help us to become in tune with your message
which tells that there is more than hell on earth.
There is earth raised up to heaven.

Mr G. (St Cecilia’s Day 2025 revised)

Hope & Vision

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.

[Mr G]

Kite in flight

Phto: Lynn Hurry

This photo of a Kite soaring high in the sky over Norfolk was sent to me by my friend, Lynn Hurry.

It’s majestic and breathtaking in a seemingly effortless pose as it rides on the wind. Sheer freedom.
Lynn adds this comment:

The Kite resembles our hope and desire to be caught by God’s love and lifted to heights unimaginable.

Quite an exciting January thought when so often our spirits are dampened by the darkness and by the cold.
Here’s a prayer reflection from Piers

God our Creator,
As the kite rides the thermals
soaring high above us,
eyes scanning the vast majesty of creation,
So, by the breath of your Spirit
lift us high to soar heavenward,
our vision wide and expansive
with fresh perspectives.
Help the eyes of our souls
to pierce through the shrouding
mists and troubles of this world
and there see hope and goodness,
and, as the kite stretches wings
to catch the rising warmth,
so help us to stretch our arms wide
with the uplift of your love.
Amen.

[PN]