If you have never got lost, then you have never put a foot wrong and you are possibly a statue! At some point in life, we all lose our bearings and miss the way. The question is, what do you do about it? Sometimes you don’t realise straightaway that you are lost but it gradually […]
Some people see life as linear from birth to death but this seems rather prescriptive and clinical. Others see it as a jagged graph with ups and downs, those ruled in or out. How do you see it? Seeing life in circles and cycles gives more room for enlargement, inclusion and growth.
The hard edges are more flexible when rounded. Reflect on the photo – circles can be overlapping, interconnected, different sizes and speak of cycles.
We live in an age where recycling and restoration are both important. And so you have the popularity of media shows where antiques, old cars and houses are restored. Harvesting of crops has always been important and, with an ever-increasing number of hungry mouths to feed, will continue to be vital. So what is a ‘harvest of restoration’ would you say? Possibly it’s only a small group that can truly describe it for it is very costly!
Nowadays, many parts of the world refer to ‘The Fall’ rather than ‘Autumn’ which is easily understood as it is the time when trees shed their leaves after they change from greens to rich oranges, yellows and reds. The origin of the word is uncertain but there is an Old French word ‘autumpne’ from the Thirteenth Century, possibly meaning ‘the drying up season’! Maybe some people feel it is the time when the sap starts to sink but it is actually a remarkably positive time both in nature and in life. Harvests are gathered in from Summer’s growth, celebrations are had and beautiful colours indicate that maturity has been reached. This is a season when over 150 million people celebrate ‘Halloween’ in America, children pay ‘Conkers’ (with seeds from Chestnut Trees), there are Harvest Festivals and bonfires in Britain. In Germany, people collect nuts, making crafts out of them and fly their kites with the strong winds that bring the leaves down. The French get very excited about this mushroom-picking season, but caution is needed for every year there are some 1,000 poisonings caused by mushrooms like this tempting ‘Amanita Muscaria’, the iconic red toadstool associated with fairies and the occult. This is often poisonous or hallucinogenic but is sometimes eaten when boiled in parts of Europe, Asia and North America. Various fruits still come in the Autumn but it is important to discern whether they are good or bad.
When many hear the word ‘legacy’, their minds run to what they stand to gain. Where does it lead you? The person who built this stile might have hoped his or her legacy would have lasted somewhat better than this broken down remnant. By definition, a legacy is what we leave behind for those who follow. Mostly, the legacy is a bequest of physical possessions and assets to family members, friends or others who we may want to bless. Sometimes there may be legacy issues leading to a squabble over a Will. Perhaps a dispute may arise from an aggrieved person who feels left out or hard done by. However, the truth is that we all give legacies in life and in death to all those who are part of our lives. The abandoned footpath sign accompanying this broken stile is a poor legacy. Contrast that with the better legacy given by the person who taught you to read a map and use a compass. Now is a good time then to consider the legacy you give to others each day.
It is a curious thing that plants can heal but they can also kill! Basil can cure itches, Sage is good to gargle for sort throats and Mint can be helpful for upset tummies. No wonder then that you will find these in many gardens. Other plants such as Mistletoe, Poinsettia and Aconitum (known as Monksfoot or Wolf’s Bane) can be fatal. They can look so pretty but are less welcome guests in gardens. A weed is defined as a plant in the wrong place – does your garden have any?! Why is it that plants which grow so easily are often unwanted – Bind Weed, Knotweed and Ground Elder? It just takes a tiny root from these plants to spread into a thick mattress that strangles – a bit like bitterness! It’s a root that is very hard to get out and is also very destructive.
When David was racked with guilt, he longed to be cleansed so that he could be ‘white as snow’. Despite the murder of Uriah and adultery with Bathsheba, there was a route for David out of the dark shadows to renewed joy and purity. That route’s signpost is the same for everyone for ‘all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) – confession. From the mightiest royalty to the poorest pauper, there are any number of ways we can lose our joy and intimacy with God but there’s only one way it can truly be restored: ‘Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin’ – Psalm 32:5
A clean slate, a fresh beginning and a new flowering – these are the yearnings of the soul. It’s not so much to do with the ‘severity’ of the sin as with the state of the heart and how we handle the little word ‘IF’.
