Fool Friday - Lent 27

 

Escaping Criticism by Pere Borrell del Caso.
Wikipedia 

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. James 1:22

'The Fool', rather like the prince in 'The Silver Chair' by CS Lewis, can be hard to spot.  In the 2003 children's novel. 'City of Ember' by Jeanne DuPrau, the children are surrounded by a spiritual people who sing and smile, while the world about them falls.  The children use their brains, and intuition to get out of the place as it tumbles.  I see DuPrau taking a swipe at organised religion, with it's benign inaction.  We are all with these children in this story, as we are in the 'Silver Chair'.  You will know them by their actions.

PRAYER:  I will be your Fool.  Give me the wisdom I need.

Thought Thursday - Lent 26

 

Freedom of Thought by 
Olga Konstantynovska
Saatchi Art

Don’t worry about anything. Discuss with your Creator. Be thankful. You will be given peace that no one can describe. The peace will guard your hearts and minds from worry.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, honourable, correct, pure and lovely. Fill your mind with these things. Philippians Chapter 4.

Our thoughts are held in the library of our mind.  When we are low, the thoughts about us are similarly of the same colour and disposition.  As our thoughts rise within us to a more hopeful place, we reach out and take hold of stronger 'kinder' experiences.  This is why the Spirit of the Creator in us is described as the 'counsellor'.

PRAYER: Help me care for and protect my mind today.

Woad Wednesday - Lent 25

 

Woad, Haley Wood's Hand tufted epic saga.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: Throughout the generations to come you must make tassels for the hems of your clothing and attach them with a blue cord. When you see the tassels, you will remember and obey all the commands of the Lord instead of following your own desires and defiling yourselves, as you are prone to do. The tassels will help you remember that you must obey all my commands and be holy to your God.

Numbers 15:37-40

The blue of the Israeli flag is 'Tekhelet' blue.  This is the blue of the prayer shawls described here in the Jewish book in the Torah which in English is called Numbers. 

What is the significance of clothing?  A one level, it is of no significance, to the extent that modern fashion is fast approaching nudity.  The peoples of New Guinea got their first.  In the verse clothing is given a special function  to stimulate memory.  Thoughts, affected behaviours and emotions. Across the world attire is full of meaning. 

PRAYER: Every morning I clothe myself in the attire you give me.

Ziz Tuesday - Lent 24

 

The Simurgh, or Ziz, Hewanopidia.com

I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. Psalm 50:11

The mythic beasts of the air flourish in all cultures.  The Phoenix, the Ziz,  the Simurgh or Huma, the Griffin and the Wyvern.  There are surprises everywhere you look.  But no surprises for the creator.

Great Seal of the Sasanian Empire of Persia

PRAYER:  It is wonderful to know that everything is known to you.  We walk together through life.

Maelstrom Monday - Lent 23

 

The Maelstorm, Norway

He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.

Psalm 107:29

The Maelstrom actually exists.  It is caused by the strong currents moving round a particular spot on the Norwegian coast.  Sometimes our lives are caught up in powerful forces beyond our control.  We are at the mercy of the waves.  Yet we are never alone.  Perhaps you have to go through a maelstrom to realise this is true.

PRAYER: I am ready for what ever is ahead of me because you are with me.

Song Saturday - Lent 22

 

Song of Songs (11) by Egon Tschirch Rostock 

“Again, your kisses are sweeter than wine. I am breathing you in. Your name spreads like a fragrance. No wonder everyone is in love with you. Take my hand. Let’s run, and we find ourselves in your bedroom.”

Egon Tschirch 1889-1948 was a German from the northern Hanseatic League city of Rostock.  He spent much time creating a series of 19 illustrations to go with the Jewish love poetry found in the Song of Songs.  Sadly his reputation was sullied by his early devotion to the cause of the Nazis.  After the war he did not have long to live, and much of his work was lost for 90 years, only to be rediscovered in 2015.  The series on the Song of Songs is particularly powerful I think.

PRAYER:  I simply love you my Lord, and everything I do remembers this.

Fillip Friday - Lent 21

 

Randomly generated auxetic structure. Dutch Design Week

That night, Daniel received an interpretation to the Kings dream. 

He woke praising the Creator saying,

“You are the only one with complete wisdom and power. 

You control all world events. Nothing happens without out your consent. You have given knowledge to people about the mysteries around us. I thank you that you have revealed yourself to me, and my ancestors. 

You have revealed a message for this great King.”

'Fillip'  - An incentive, and push, a boost. During tough times of 'swimming against the tide', Daniel gets a boost.  A small thing, a dream, yet also a big thing, a thing that affects the power balance in the kingdom.

PRAYER:  Thank you for lifting our spirit by revealing that you know everything.

Thrush Thursday - Lent 20

Christie Beckwith, on Fine Art America

Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their migration.

But my people do not know the requirements of the Lord.

Jeremiah 8:7

Julian Bagini in his book 'How the World Thinks' notes that western philosophy focused on the dispassionate 'Truth'.  In the East the focus is on 'The Way'.  Jesus described himself as 'The Way, The Truth and The Life.'  Animals seem to know what they are about, but humans seem to struggle to find meaning.

PRAYER: I have stumbled into you, and choose to follow.

Grass Wednesday - Lent 19

 

Long Grass with Butterflies by Vincent Van Gogh
National Gallery, London.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Isaiah 40:8

Every generation is faced with oblivion.  When I was born the threat was nuclear annihilation from from the quivering finger of some president.  Today it is the slow collapse of delicate ecosystems.  Grass is the basis of all human life.  

John Christopher (pen name of Sam Youd, 1922 -2012, he had at least eight other pen names),  found success as an author with his dystopic novel 'Death of Grass'.  A viral pandemic originating from China was wiping out all species of grass.  It slowly dawned on humanity how important this basis food stuff is to existence with it's critical place at the base of a giant food chain.  

Just as the account of Jesus' life in the gospels is so fragile, often within a breath of being snuffed out, so too our world balances precariously.  

PRAYER:  We know that we are safe.  Help us understand more about safety.

Turtle Tuesday - Lent 18

 

Sea Turtle by Danielle Burford Artmajeur.com

And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.          Leviticus 12:8

It's turtledoves.  What strange verses to our modern ears.  These are thanksgiving and sin offerings (they come as a pair).  Why?  the explanations never feels satisfactory to me.   

PRAYER:  I give you thanks, and I request forgiveness.  Both are necessary as I come into your Holy presence.

Bud Monday - Lent 17

 

Microscopic picture of a bud at Mediastorehouse

Let's go early up to the vineyards. Let's see whether the vine has budded, its blossom is open, and the pomegranates are in flower. There I will give you my love.

Song of Songs 2:12

I remember sitting in our kitchen.  The room was filled with the fragrance of flowers.  Kind friends and family had sent many bouquets following the death of our unborn child.  I saw and watched a lily bud fall from the stem.  I thought 'how apt'.  I tried to write a poem, but it didn't scan, and I screwed it up.

PRAYER: Buds are part of the journey of life.  May I fulfil my part.

Soil Saturday - Lent 16

 

Red Soil by Dilek Yucel,  Saatchi Art

As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Luke 8:15

The good soil brings forth maturity.  Hear, and recognise what it good.  Hold on to it, with no hidden motive.  Good things then happen.

PRAYER:  As a plant requires good soil, warmth, moisture and protection, so I grow.

Leaf Friday - Lent 15

 

Circle of Leaves (For Sale on Breezepics.com)

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

    which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

    whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:3

I have been planted by a stream of living water.  There can be no greater blessing in life.  

PRAYER:  May my fruit be sure and freely available.

Ant Thursday - Lent 14

 

A roman red jasper intaglio. Ant 
Bertolamifinearts.com

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. Psalm 6:6-8

No other verse can surpass the sublime elegance of these verses.  It reminds me of my thought that an averagely intelligent 12 year old could solve all the problems of the world in 30 minutes.  Some things in life are blindingly obvious.  

PRAYER: May I live my life following your simple truths.

Weeds Wednesday - Lent 13

 

'Ophelia' by Sir John Everett Millais, Tate Britain

“And why are you concerned about what you are to wear? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They neither labour nor spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his royal splendour was clothed like one of these."  Matthew 6:28

Hamlet. The tragic tail of beauty and destruction.  Complex lives twisted and distorted by evil.  All suffer.  Let striving cease.  Connect with the simplicity of a natural life.

PRAYER:  Into this world I came with nothing, and I leave in the same condition.  May I stay close to you all the way.  

Tares Tuesday - Lent 12

 

Sunset at Wheat Field 1888 Vincent Van Gogh.

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away." Matthew 13:24

The Tares or weeds, described as 'darnel', are very similar to wheat, but produce no edible fruit.  It's very difficult to tell the difference between the two.  Jesus says 'don't even try - you are likely to make a mistake'.  So we leave the Creator to be the final arbitrator of what is genuine and what is not.  

Peter Ridley says in his book that although the tares are not part of the Creator's design, and complicate things somewhat, they become part of the plan, as all things work for good... 

Today I think of a believer who lives with her partner.  They do not marry, and I understand this.  Their situation is complex, and I am not going to judge them.

PRAYER:  We give thanks for all things, including the tares that mess up the fine crop.

'Darnel' picture from Wikipedia

Behemoth Monday - Lent 11

Behemoth- from
'Illustrations of the Book of Job',
by William Blake.

 “Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; 

he eats grass like an ox."

Job 40:15

Behemoth- monster of the land, Leviathan, of the sea and Ziz, monster of the air.  Ziz, that's a new one.  It can be found in Psalm 50:11.

All things come from the same source.  The small things like bacteria and viruses; the big things like the Behemoth and Leviathan.  

PRAYER:  We all come from the same source, and will return to the same source. Blessed in the name of the Lord.

Splinter Saturday - Lent 10

Justine Khmara,
from mymodernmet.com

 “Why do you take note of the splinter in your brother’s eye but do not notice the wooden plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while all the time the wooden plank remains in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the wooden plank from your own eye, and then you will be able to see clearly enough to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3 -5

My worst fear; living the life of a hypocrite.  There is so much that I do which both through choice and ignorance, is not what I believe in.  I think of the advice given to Muslims who eat haram food unwittingly. "If you do, say at a friends house, and they have assured you the food is safe, and you never knew it was not, then there is nothing to be done.  If you learn that the food was a problem after eating it, pray for purity, and you will absolved."  The challenge for us is when we know what is the best, honourable and right thing to do, we do it.  

PRAYER: Open my eyes, and then give me the strength to follow you.

Fig Friday - Lent 9

From the Cotswold Cheese Company (sold out)

 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. And when he had eaten, his spirit revived, for he had not eaten bread or drunk water for three days and three nights.

1 Samuel 30:12

This story is quite wonderful.  David (soon to be King of the Jews) and his men stumbled across a dying figure in the wilderness.  A quick fish in their knapsack.  Slightly anxious glances between them.  I generous and selfless act.  Their action saved this man's life.  

Now that's what I call communion.

PRAYER: May I be ready to give my last 'fig ball' to a dying person.

Tar Thursday - Lent 8

The Day of His Wrath by John Martin, at Tate Britain

 For it is the day of the Lord’s revenge,

 the year when Edom will be paid back for all it did to Israel.

9 

The streams of Edom will be filled with burning pitch,

and the ground will be covered with fire.

10 

.......

For God will measure that land carefully;

he will measure it for chaos and destruction.

12 

It will be called the Land of Nothing..... (Isaiah 54:9)

Brimstone and hell fire....It is difficult to take 'hell' seriously in the 21st centaury.  Hell is 'helplessness'.  It is the loss of 'choice', no matter how simple.  Hell is 'pain', relentless pain.  Hell is torture; in particular, pain that is inflicted deliberately and perversely by another.  Hell is not being loved by anyone.  

There are people who live in hell today.  Let us pray for them.

PRAYER:  What can I do to fight against 'hell' and resist evil? It is clear.  Make it clearer.

Rust Wednesday - Lent 7

Rust III by Peg Morris (for sale on Saatchi Art)

Your money has rusted, and the rust will be evidence against you, as it burns your body like fire. Yet you keep on storing up wealth in these last days.  James 5:3

 "There are no pockets in a shroud" (Spanish Proverb)

Rust is not presented positively here.  But rust is where all metal came from.  Metallic ore is some form of rust.  The miracle of life is that it, for a short time, defies the general drift towards rust.

PRAYER: You are the same yesterday, today and forever.  I worship you.

Brier Tuesday - Lent 6

Sleeping Beauty - By Edward Burne-Jones
Faringdon Collection

“If my land cries out against me, And its furrows weep together;

If I have eaten its fruit without money, Or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

Let briars grow instead of wheat, And stinkweed instead of barley.”

The words of Job are ended.

Job 31:38-40

Briers have a bad press.  Their thorns overshadow the simple rose displayed in Summer.   How many unattractive characteristics in people colour the way we see them.  Perhaps we do not see their blooms?  I think of Tony Blair who's legacy should have been 'Sure Start children Centres', but will for every be linked to lying about Iraqi weapons.

PRAYER:  Let your light shine from me so strongly that you are visible. 

Holly Monday - Lent 5

 

By Elizabeth Gower - Sutton Gallery

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Psalm 9:18

John Lewis-Stempel, in his book 'The Wood', discusses that through hard winter months in the wood, when nothing grows much, it was traditional to lop the tops of holly bushes and feed the softer, less prickly leaves to the cattle.  I was reminded of  our rabbits when they were little.  I tried to train them not to urinate in their living quarters using this natural barbed wire.  I was surprised to see the holly had vanished.  Even rabbits know how to negotiate prickles from a early age.

Hope can be found in the most unexpected places.

PRAYER: I trust you today and know that you will meet all of my needs.

Sand Saturday - Lent 4

Artist - Marc Treanor (on CNN website).

The line in the sand is final. There is no going back.

Eternality has been planted in our hearts.

Ecclesiastes Chapter 3

Sand- inconstant, shifting.  But here is where a line is drawn.  This might mean 'enough is enough', 'I take a stand', 'I act now'.

Change can be very gradual, like a slow erosion, almost imperceptible.  The outsider, the guest, the foreigner, often helps us to see more clearly, to detect change that undermines, disempowers or corrodes.

My German friend alerted me to how week by week, newspapers always seem to have a story about the war, a time when Britain was 'great', and we experienced triumph.  This is generally at the expense of Germany. But he knows that's the deal.

With my eye fixed on all that really matters, the hope of a returning creator, carer and Lord, I am able to avoid deviations from this path.  

PRAYER:  I set my eyes on you this day, and you alone help me see everything about me.

Teeth Friday - Lent 3

 

A Roar
By Hannah Webb in
The Rooster Magazine

Arise, O Lord! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; 

you break the teeth of the wicked.

Psalm 3:7

Have you heard of 'turn the other cheek'?  What about when you don't want to; when you want to be furious.  

PRAYER:  Silence the wicked, and silence me too when I am wicked.

Dust Thursday - Lent 2

Twister by Methune Hively
on fineartamerica.com

"And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, 

shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town."  Matthew 10:14

In 'Our Mutual Friend' by Dickins we learn about Nobby Boffin, the 'Golden Dustman'.  In the Victorian era the problem was just the dust.  Everything else was burnt on the fire, but the ashes could overwhelm a crowded city quite easily.  Nobby was famous in London because he became wealthy through recycling the 'dust'.  In actual fact this is more likely to be bones for glue, and anything of value that was accidently thrown into the fire.  Victorian were suspicious of anyone dealing in scrap, as we are today.  Where they on the bread line, or part of the 'super rich'?

Dust:- of no significance but of immense significance at the same time.

PRAYER- I am aware that all things come from you, and their significance is determined by you.

Ash Wednesday - Lent 1

Ash Dome by David Nash,
(for sale on Artspace.com)

....to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

'Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust'.  We remember at the start of Lent that we are mortal.  The day of our end is not known to us, but it is a reality.  All things come to an end.  Lent is a time to do something different- to check the mundane- to 'swim the channel' - to break the habit - to reach out to others -

 to give dangerously...  because all things will vanish.  

What remains is the the tattoo on our forehead; the sign of the cross.  

PRAYER:  My eyes are set on the day you will return and take me to be with yourself.