Teach me, Beauty,Wisdom & Compassion

In all things thee to see

And what I do in anything

to do it as for Thee

How well the two go together. Beauty seems a window lnto the Divine.

My walk this morning took me talong the brow of one of the smallish hills above Torrington & along the back of the local allotments.

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An intriguing verse from St Paul (1 Corinthians 13:12) reminds us that ‘Now we see through a glass darkly ‘ and ‘Now I know in part’ – reminding us of our often limited seeing and knowing.

A lovely, though rather controversial ,aphorism tells us that ‘To understand all is to forgive all’ So I am glad that God’s knowledge of us is characterised as ‘perfect’ in Psalm 139,

I find this immensely reassuring as it’s so easy to be quick to judge others. I think we had a reading from Advices and Queries about this last month.

The conclusion of St. Paul’s thought process helps us to look forward to ‘Then’- the Reality. –

when we shall know fully as we are known and see face to face

The family photo taken at the ‘wake’ in the Commodore (Instow) after my mother’s funeral

and now 3 others in the photo have also died and know this Reality for themselves.

I am definitely slowing down – having reached 80 and starting walking with a stick – and benefitting from 

seeing more on my daily walks.

This lovely bush, with delicate spiders webs on top and view over our local Torrington countryside, really fascinated me with it’s

wonderful colour. delicate bud-type leaves +.

How much for us to see and enjoy in our lovely though fragile world.I love some words from St. Paul about this way of seeing and have used the Biblical reference in my email address <ph.4v4to8:gmail.com)

‘And now, my friends, all that is true,all that is noble,all that is just and pure, all that is lovable and gracious, whatever is excellent and admirable – fill all your thoughts with these things (Philippians 4 verse 8)

It seemed right to look back on God’s Presence/Guidance in my life over the years to be able to begin a reflective answer

1. In 1974 God called me out of a career as a Chartered Accountant (12 years) to explore ministry within the Church of England. I had been a believer since before could remember -looking back , with a current understanding of Christian Baptism of God’s work in my life since my parents asked Him for this when they took me for Baptism

To love and worship Him seemed natural and I was involved in several different Christian groups/churches  up until 1974 (Presbyterian/Baptist/CofE) but then the Church of England became the focus.

2. From 1974 to 2010 ministry (worship, service( caring. teaching) and learning ) was within urban parish of Chelsea, RAF chaplaincy & rural parishes in Devon).

3. Since retirement in 2010 I have been  still been active within various Christian Churches (CofE, Methodist and Baptist) and expect to do so until He calls me closer  to Himself through death.

4. About 4 years ago I felt Him impressing on me ‘John , now is the time to Be more than to Do’ and so when I could I started attending Quaker worship, learning more about stillness and contemplation and enjoying these CAC courses. (I will have completed 5 of the 6 online courses at the end of BOW and am starting the last-Wisdom School- on the 14th)

5. So  a ‘Contemplative Mind’ is becoming a joyful & vital part of my journey.

This was the motto Horace Dammers (Dean of Bristol) coined for our newly formed movement in 1972. I remember thesmall geen and yellow

lapel badges we used to wear though sadly cannot find mine now.

This sustainability movement flourished and still continues (https://www.lifestylemovement.org.uk)

We are always looking for articles for our magasine (Living Green)

and for friends to join our , at present, quite small group.

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I am enjoying dipping into the longest Psalm in the Bible (119) and was amazed and rather excited to learn that in many monastic communities it is often a daily part of their worship (https://christdesert.org/prayer/opus-dei/approach-to-the-psalms)

The entrancing words of verse 18 are echoed in this musical prayer of longing to help us see God/The Divine/Reality in everything

Richard Rohr subtitles his wonderfully ‘heart opening’ book The Universal Christ with the words ‘seeing Christ in all things’. The first chapter recounts the joy of a lady who experienced just that on a Tube train in London.