Stephan was having his lunch outside at the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens where he works. He was careful to finish off the remains of his sandwich, ensuring there was no waste, something he abhorred. Whilst doing this he noticed a robin feeding also. But it left what it did not need or want. It was satisfied and not worried about waste and flew off regardless. My thought: the need is less than the gift, what is is more than we need.
Gardening
The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Psalm 24:1
Read MoreThe Return to Wonder
I thank You God for most this amazing day…and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any… ...human merely being doubt unimaginable You? (now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened)
E. E. Cummings, I thank you God
Read MoreIn defense of joy
We must have the stubbornness to accept our gladness in the ruthless furnace of this world.
A brief for the defense, Jack Gilbert (extract)
Read MoreOne wild and precious life
Tell me, what is it you plan to do, with your one wild and precious life?
Mary Oliver, The Summer Day
Read MoreThe uncurling of the soul towards God
The trees are coming into leaf/
Like something almost being said/
.../
Last year is dead, they seem to say/
Begin afresh, afresh, afresh.
The Trees (extract), Philip Larkin
Read MoreThe walk into darkness
In any part of our journey there may be a tangible sense of a beginning or of an end. But what about the path in between? Are there not periodic dips into darkness, or to use another Christian mystical term 'desert'? But what does this darkness brings us to?
Read MoreThe way was wholly lost
'Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.' Psalm 119:105. Often we don’t know where we are going. This Psalm, in fact, seems to suggest that our true path is not clearly marked or easy to locate. So should we know clearly where we are going?
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