THURSDAY 2 JULY 2020

Good morning friends,

One of the things I’ve enjoyed about the last few months is having time to wander along all the wee country roads near the centre.

I have marveled over and over at the beauty of the created world around me, and it’s not the first time I have been caught out by other walkers as I have shouted out “Praise the Lord! Or wow! Look at that!”

I’ve sang my way along too at times, some of the hymns that we sing about creation, and felt on more one occasion that I have simply been adding my voice to the voice of nature that is continuously praising God, 24/7.

The garden here too at the centre has been something of a revelation to me this year.

I have been amazed at the variety of plants, and the way each has its own season for growth, before dying back to make way for the next group to flower.

And of course, it’s not just flowers and vegetables and trees that have caught my eye.

I’ve seen squirrels, a family of deer, rabbits, slugs, a fox, bees, midges, and a variety of different birds, from large birds of prey, to tiny wrens.

And that’s only during the daytime. There’s a whole other side of creation that presences itself at night.

I’ve seen the moon and stars, amazing sunsets and sunrises, heard owls, and other strange noises from creatures unseen.

There’s been a huge variety of changes in weather; sun, rain, hail, frost, gales and fog.

No wonder then, I have been prompted to shout out praises to the one who created all this, and, so much more than I could ever begin to comprehend.

There was a moment a couple of weeks ago, when the beauty of creation brought comfort to a few folks whose hearts were heavy.

The morning after one of our brothers passed from this life to the next, those who had come to work in the garden gathered together at the cross to have a time of prayer, and to give thanks for the times we had worked with him in the garden.

During the prayer time a wee robin came and sat on the cross..............It truly felt as if we were at one with nature that morning,and a reminder to me of nature’s power to bless and to heal.

“ Summer and winter and spring-time and harvest,

Sun moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great it Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.”

God bless you this day.