Hosanna!

Sitting with my back to the window, I heard a kerfuffle and turned. Two cock pheasants, resplendent in their glorious colourful feathery attire, faced off against one another. Tiny heads bobbed and poked aggressively. Clawed feet stepped to the side, forward and back, as they challenged each other for territory, for power, for position. Wings outstretched, fluttered aggressively, with agitation. It was an Attenborough moment. I could imagine his velvet tones describing this ritual in the natural world and explaining what was really going on.

Nations posture and challenge one another. Politicians and leaders strut and proclaim, seeking to gain, or hold on to, power. We watch and listen, struggling to determine what is truth, what is fake, what is safe, what is reckless. We yearn for someone to explain what is really going on.

Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna to the King of Kings. Glory in the highest heavens, for Jesus the Messiah reigns.

How often that old chorus comes to mind and I sing out some of the names of our Saviour. Hosanna. Save, help. If ever the world needed the Saviour, it is now. How much clearer can it be, that we mess up? That we don’t know what to do to fix the messes we make? That we are helpless without God?

Hosanna to the King of Kings. Jesus. Hear our cry for your world, Lord. Thank you that you are the God of hope, and that we can look to you for salvation, for light, for life and truth and grace and peace. Hosanna, Lord. Thank you that you hear us, that you are always with us, and that as you inspire us, so we can help lead this wounded world into a new chapter. Give us vision and strength to imagine and achieve change, to partner with you in enabling mercy and justice to reign. Vision and strength, Lord Jesus. Grace to imagine and pray. Peace to accept our helplessness with humility and to trust in you for everything. Gratitude and hearts full of praise.

Hosanna.

Swallows Sweep

Swallows sweep past the window, darting here and there, chattering to one another. Other small birds – probably the ones who may over-winter here – hop down from the branches of the towering larch tree, pecking the ground beneath. A pigeon emerges from the foliage of the gooseberry bush. Beyond the near space, crows caw and land on the rolls of hay dotting the golden field. 

Autumn is upon us. I feel the stirrings of my annual urge to store up for winter, like a squirrel, pine cones and twigs for starting those fires that are already needed. In life, too, I am prepping for whatever is to come. Trying to find order in the picture folders on my computer, printing some out so that in the event of a laptop meltdown I don’t lose my memories. Gearing up for another round of the endless de-cluttering. Where does all this stuff come from?! I’m not necessarily sensing imminent winter, but the signs are there, and I know it is coming.

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever, and he is the one thing that doesn’t change. I don’t have to moan, like the children do in Narnia tales, that it is always winter but never Christmas. When winter finally does come, I expect my spiritual ears to pick up the heavenly anthems and to be ready to shout out ‘Hark! The herald angels sing! Glory!!’

Glorious Sunset Reflected

Last night I captured a glorious sunset on my phone camera, and assuming that I have mastered the art of Dropbox just now I am going to put it in here.

God just seems to go a bit wild sometimes with the glories of the skies in Scotland. Kind of like he’s showing off but I certainly do appreciate it. As I turned back to the house last night, I realised that the glories of the sunset were mirrored in one of our dining room windows. So I took a picture of that too, and hopefully my Dropbox skills will not fail me in a moment to share this with you.

It made me think that when we open ourselves up fully to the glorious Creator, we reflect something of his glory. Open up today, and see what happens.

Be Still and Know

Be still and know that I am God.

What a glorious command. It makes me breathe deep and relax.

Yesterday again I was walking along a river, where the day before I had been drawn to consider the waters rushing and tumbling over the rocks, their droplets catching the sun’s rays and twinkling like diamonds. It had caused me to reflect that there is beauty in brokenness.

Yesterday instead I was drawn to the reflections of the trees, arrayed in their autumnal finery, clearly visible in the still waters. Those reflections could not be seen once the waters got flowing fast, but where they pooled and paused on their way to the sea, the oranges and reds of the trees were stunning.

Be still and know that I am God. It is when we are still that we can best reflect God. When we have been still with God, others can see him in us. We may not be aware of it, but others are. We are reflecting the beauty of our creator rather than the turmoil of our own lives.

I also noticed that in a quiet tributary where the kayakers were practicing their slalom maneuvers, the reflections could be seen, and that out of that quiet space, the waters gathered pace to re-enter the river and cascade over the rocks, sparkling in the sunlight like gemstones.

The quiet times in God’s presence prepare us for the frenetic times in life when all we can do is rush and tumble, but in those moments of rush and tumble, because of our earlier preparation, his glory can still be seen.

Oh I do like to walk by the river. Be still today, and know that he is God.

Spinning Plates

Spinning Plates

The trick is to keep smiling and keep the patter coming without losing the momentum on any one spin, so that none of the plates drops.

Well, actually I’ve never tried spinning plates, but when I’ve seen one of the entertainers who can do such a thing – I guess maybe it’s usually been a clown in a circus – it seems that it’s the momentum of the spin and the tilt and balance on the pole which keeps the plates moving. When they stop moving, they drop and roll away.

I don’t think I’m the only one to feel as if I’m spinning plates just now. Some of them I just can’t let drop. Like the lovely new granddaughter who I got to hold again today. Like taking time to pray and read and listen. That one takes a bit of effort to maintain momentum. It is so easily overlooked. Commitments to family. Skyping my mother every day. Writing commissions.

Then there is the nitty gritty of everyday life which I can’t let drop. The day job. The housework. The commitments to others through church and Bible study. The garden. The shopping. 

Then there are the projects I want to keep spinning. Creative writing projects. Cross-stitch. Reading interesting novels and books. Writing blogs. Learning a new language. Taking walks.

And in the midst of all the spinning plates, sometimes other clowns suddenly run out of the shadows and cast another one my way which I have no option but to try to catch on a pole and keep spinning. Visitors drop in. Neighbours need a hand. The telephone rings, or an email needs answering.

Come to me, Jesus said, if you’re tired and weary and fearful of dropping one of those spinning plates. I will refresh you and call time out.

Well, he doesn’t say it exactly like that, but that’s the gist. So I’m giving the plates to him and having a rest. Whew.

Reflected Glory

Jesus is the Son of God. He is the source of light. To my mind, he is like the sun.
When I go to him in prayer or the Bible, it is like sun bathing. As I relax in his presence, in the light of his glory and righteousness, I absorb something of him. Not only does his presence change me, but hopefully he is able to continue radiating peace and light and hope through me to others, much as the moon absorbs the light of the sun and then shines as a sort of secondary source of light during the hours of darkness.
Jesus invites everyone to come to him and absorb the light of his love and life, but some people continue to make do in the darkness, navigating by the light of the moon. The trouble is, the moon isn't always out. Sometimes it is hidden. Sometimes it isn't fully there, just as sometimes believers obscure the truths of Jesus by substandard behaviour or words.
My prayer is that everyone reading this will long for the full strength light of Jesus, lingering long enough in his presence through the Bible or concentrated prayer to absorb the light for themselves, and not depend on the erratic shining of one of his lesser moons.
May God bless you all today.Jesus

Ancient Wood of Drum

Walked Dusty in the Ancient Wood of Drum (Castle) this morning. It was a little misty, but not cold. As we approached the castle, there were twigs and branches woven into interlocking circles hanging from some of the ancient oak trees. 

It is nearly autumn, and the fungi are in evidence. Toadstools and mushrooms of vibrant, heady colours push up from the damp soil. Weird carbuncles jut out of the sides of tree trunks. 

A sign heralded ‘Giants in the Woods’. I thought it would refer to the size of the trees but no, it advised that there were various man-made reproductions of giants lurking in the forest.

Didn’t really require much imagination to label this an enchanted forest. 

Dusty was delighted to be on a different walk, and though we’ve been there before, we’ve not been there for awhile. Yet she remembered the half-hidden path through the ferns (bracken) which sprouted nearly three feet high, which led to a pool of water.

A stagnant pool of water, we discovered, covered with algae and reeking. I kept her in the fast flowing stream that fed it. 

This ancient wood, adjacent to Drum Castle, used to be the royal hunting grounds. Some of the trees were probably saplings when kings and princes rode out on their steeds to shoot deer (or people!). Drum Castle’s keep has stood there since the twelfth century, and many a siege has surrounded it over the years. 

Perhaps some might think of ghosts in these woods. Of fairies and giants and elves. But when I looked at those magnificent old oaks, majestically stretching their branches, the leaves starting to yellow as autumn approaches, I just give the glory to God. 

What a God we have! His creation is astonishing. The beauty is undeniable in this place. What a shame that we humans so often not only don’t see it, but in our hubris and greed we so often 

desecrate it. 

God forgive us.