Bare trees and pruning

The trees outside my window stand denuded, prepped for winter’s icy grip. Bare branches twist and intertwine: they’ve lost the beauty of the autumn finery that now lies mouldering on the damp ground.

For several months, my vision has been circumscribed by those leaves, and now that they are off, I can once again see Scolty and Clachnaben, two distinctive hills to the southwest of us. 

Sometimes our vision is limited by pleasant surroundings which draw our attention, and we miss the grander picture. 

One of my tasks today, if there is time, is to chop the beautiful rose bushes in half. I hate doing it because they are still in bloom, but the forecast is for snowy winds later in the week and I don’t want them buffeted and blown about, loosening the roots which anchor them in tight. Pruning isn’t pleasant, for rose bushes or for people, but un-pruned we are more vulnerable and weaker.

And there is the promise of spring. Renewed life. The bigger picture.

Happy Monday.

Consolations

Friday night. Music night. Fire blazing in the grate; dry logs waiting their turn on the hearth.

I’m a warm weather woman, but I have to admit there are some lovely things about frosty nights. 

When all around is looking bleak, there are always consolations. God is never far away. He is closer than we know and his fire flares in my heart, warming me during these days.

God bless us all.

Camouflage

I can see you!

You might think it’s all decaying but in fact there are beautiful things camouflaged. Look harder.

Free speech, deliberate love

The sun rose on another lovely, cold autumn day. It will rise again tomorrow, whatever the day is like. Day follows night and will until Jesus winds things up and we have a new heaven, a new earth. 

So how to live in the present? Jesus gave us a good clue: stay alert. If ever we needed to live life deliberately, and with consideration, now is the time. We need to be ready to speak out and step forward and watch out for the vulnerable. To make our voices heard. 

Long may we enjoy free speech but whatever happens, we always have access to freedom of spirit. I pray that all followers of Jesus, and all those of integrity, will show patience, kindness, self-control, gentleness, and love during these days. Through the power of the Spirit, may God’s love prevail.

Little Things

This afternoon I had the joy of colouring a picture with two-year-old Flick, playing shops with her and then burping her six-day-old wee brother Gregor. Does it get any better than this?

Even on a day of shocking political outcomes, I could enjoy the little things. Which, at the end of the day, are really the big things.

We are in God’s hands, no matter the rhetoric. To borrow the motto of a nation, ‘In God we Trust’: though it seems that many in the USA might substitute ‘the Republican party’ for ‘God’. I don’t believe the Spirit inhabits political parties; he inhabits hearts which love Jesus. God’s love in us is needed now more than ever, to help mend this hurting, fractured world.

Because at the end of the day, I want my grandchildren to be able to enjoy the little things in life, too.

Spiritual Palate

Nothing cleanses the spiritual palate like a good praise night. Thank you @Stuart Fyvie and @Emelie Fyvie. Refreshed and strengthened for the journey. God is good. He is always good, so full of grace and mercy and love. So grateful.