Musings

Enough said, perhaps. Words from the gospel of St John. The beginning and the ending and everything in between. God with us. Not distant and disengaged. We are not lost, but found. Every moment of every day, and beyond. ‘I am with you always….’ says Jesus to the disciples, and to you and I.

Bless you.

Thousands of years. Storms and wind and rain. The passing of human beings, leaving their mark. Thousands of years. Pointing the way, weathered by rain, snow, hail and much more. Original purpose may be lost to us. But we want to know and enquire and make sense.

What matters is what it points to. The possibility of a divine being and creator who stepped into the world and saw that it was good.

Difficult to image in these days through which we pass. The uncertainty and perhaps fear. But the still small voice of calm as the creator touches our hearts.

Blessing and peace,

I’m a great fan of gates….here are some I photographed whilst on the Isle of Arran, last year. Gates were at the centre of my life in my 20 years as a Prison Chaplain. Opening, closing, clanging and banging…..

The gate above just got me thinking how faith works. Obstacles, seeming barriers, are routes into new perspectives. The gate looks as though it’s end is near…. but it serves a purpose. beckoning us through into a new space and understanding.

Jesus stands at the gate, and invites us to take the step or two.

Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights— His faithful love endures forever. the sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever. and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 136;7-9

The photograph was taken looking seaward at the setting of the Sun and the rising of the Moon. The time between light and darkness, that we can’t hold on to. A passing moment, which reveals this liminal space which reminds us of how fragile we are.

There’s a wonderful comment in the psalm…’ His faithful love (God’s) endures for ever…’

I hear the words as you do, but no answers that might unlock the mystery. That God’s love is without end, and I find myself trying to diminish it, so that it might fit my thinking.

Take the step, don’t get bogged down!!!! Go’s faithful love is there for everyone, no exceptions!

Just how I feel in this moment of waiting; the promise of the rainbow, and moving and changing sea. My faith that has taken me through all the storms of life and sometimes I’ve hung on with fear and trembling.

The middle is a nowhere place without anything to guide. There’s part of me wanting to run and never stop. But another part that hears the ‘still small voice’ of God. Not booming or cajoling but whispering, and faint and difficult to pinpoint.

Real and honest and whispering peace in my tears, hearing the voice of God’s love, in the waves and the birdsong and the weakness. The opportunity held in the rainbow in the storm.

God is love…I know….God shadowing us under the shadow of his wings.

The Lord truly bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you, both now and always.

A photograph from friends who are on holiday in Grand Canaria .A real sense of tranquility and peace.

When Apollo 11 landed on the moon in July 1969, the area it landed on was named Traquility base. What a powerful word for the heading of this blog today. It can be a very transient word as tranquility can come and go, depending on external and internal factors. We may hold it for a fleeting moment, like the dimming sun and the gentle sea, but it can affect us way beyond the passing of moments.

Hold the scene for as long as you can and allow senses and feelings to flow.

Jesus is the peace that passes all understanding is all I hear in my conscious thoughts. But that peace is held out to each of us, through the movement of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and souls. Stop and listen.

I’ve been doing a lot of drifting over the past few months. Both inwardly and outwardly! Getting lost in a moment of reflection, but unable to express what is really going on in my heart and soul.

Many changes and challenges, including my Mum’s death. Seeing the world change in Ukraine and all the uncertainty that reveals. A couple of days ago seeing a convoy of trucks leaving Wrexham for the Ukraine, loaded with essential items collected and to be given to those caught in the war.

Drifting is OK, it helps us to find somewhere to anchor, but may take time and patience, and may be a different place from where we started. Towards the end of Matthew’s gospel we hear the Risen Jesus say these words; ...’I am with you always, even to the end of the world…and beyond……’ The assurance that nothing is lost or given up upon. My Mum truly is ‘Resting in peace’ and seeing and hearing things that are beyond our comprehension at the moment.

The Lord be with you, now and forever.

My heartfelt thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

Barrie

Mist in a valley and trees in the foreground. A hill in the distance, creating an illusion of floating on a cloud.

Seeing clearly does not always help us. Sometimes we see through a fog of limited understanding. Being human in other words!!!

Here are some words of the apostle Paul, which speak about the light and darkness of life as a human ‘For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known…..’ he was talking about the journey of our lives and the interweaving of God’s presence.

Faith and trust go hand in hand. Take a moment to sense and trust the enlightening moments during each day. Be surprised!

Hermit’s cell? Place of pilgrimage? Offerings? Ruin? Place of rest? Focus of prayer? Stopping place? Spiritual charging point?

It could be any of the above and much more! Where is your stopping point during your day? Allow God’s love to surround you and let the Holy Spirit connect with your spirit.

Peace be with you and upon you1

….is believing! But what does it all mean? I took this photograph a couple of years ago. Staged and offered to you now.

It’s got something to do with faith and how we see or perceive our world. We each of us take our own journey, and faith can be an important ingredient. The photograph speaks to me about understanding out lives; the many levels that add to who we are.

Faith is not about seeing is believing. It is about trust and faith and stepping out into the love of God which has many levels and challenges.

Take a moment to look at the photograph and let its quirkiness speak to you!