Viennese Whirl? Look, See, Pray

The iconic Ferris Wheel in Vienna should have been demolished in 1916- but the Empire couldn’t afford it. Since then it has become a famous landmark, and appeared in the film “The Third Man” and also in a Bond film, “The Living Daylights.”

A local saying is that if you ride the wheel and see the whole of Vienna from there, you will love the city forever.

On our visit to Vienna, we didn’t have time to queue for tickets, so we only saw the Ferris Wheel from the tour bus. The effect worked at least partially- I’d love to go back and spend more time in Vienna- a city of beautiful architecture and great culture.

But apart from the classic engineering and the stunning view, the wheel has little value. It goes round, the cars rise, crest, and descend- and that’s it.

Is that how most of us see life? A treadmill with a good view?

Repetitive behaviour is part of life. We sleep, wake, eat, work, eat, and sleep. Assuming we are fortunate enough to get more than meal a day.

A Ferris wheel is essentially an entertainment. Life is a journey with purpose- or should be. Western society is in danger of being entertained to death! There must be more to life than this.

I am reminded of the experience of Zaccheus in Luke 19:1-10. He was a tax officer of dubious ethics- the basic way of tax collecting for the Roman provinces was to raise whatever the Governor told you to collect: and anything else you could extort was yours to keep. To say they were unpopular is a major understatement.

Yet Zaccheus realised his life was a failure. Having heard that Jesus was nearby, Zaccheus (a short bloke) climbed into a tree to listen. Imagine his shock when Jesus (against all custom and religious purity) invited himself to Zac’s place for a meal and chat! Everyone else was horrified- didn’t Jesus realise this was a SINNER, traitor, collaborator, tax collector!!!

Of course Jesus did. Upshot- Jesus was unpopular with the self-righteous snobs, Zac’s life was turned around, and the people who’d been ripped off were generously compensated. The Kingdom of God moved in, and turned the world upside down.

Jesus said that He was here to do what the Heavenly Father required. His call to Zaccheus (and us today) is to follow that way- to walk alongside Jesus, and do what God wants done.

It’s riskier, but it sure beats a Ferris wheel ride!

Becoming Aware- Look, See, Pray

Cooler moist air, early angled sunshine, and a spider’s web becomes an artwork: its fragility set off beautifully by the smooth solid rose-hips adding hints of colourful, warm, apricot.

Eureka! The kind of web that when not lit up can be walked into by us as well as bugs which then enlivens mornings with an impromptu outburst of spluttering interpretative dance.

Suddenly all the delicate structure of the engineering of a web is plain to see. How did spiders ever learn to do that?

The complexity of a garden eco-system is astonishing. So many creatures taking part in the interweaving dynamic of Life. Then the plants that provide beauty, food, cover and more. From ant to tree, there is a place for everything. Most of the events in our gardens happen without our awareness. Life and death conflicts go on in the grasses, the soil, and the air. Hidden birds burst into song (which we sometimes fail to notice- that is surely a crime!).

Becoming aware of the life around us is important. It sets us in the proper context as part of our home, our community, our world.

We will see, hear and smell things that lift our consciousness, and even open us on a spiritual level. Respect for creation often leads to a deeper respect, a reverence, towards God. Theologians talk about God being “immanent” – being present in and sustaining life- and this means God can be encountered in and through the stream of life we are part of. Grace roosts in our treetop, waiting to fly down to our shoulder.

As we step into our home, into our garden, onto our day’s journey, we are on holy ground. God is present, and through encountering His Presence we participate in holiness. We are “set aside” for a holy purpose which can be worked out wherever our day takes us.

My day started with a spider’s web. And I sensed the pleasure of Jesus as I photographed it, and as I started to write about the experience. God is here, as He always has been. Now, I am aware.

Psalm 113:4-6

The Lord is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God,
Who is enthroned on high,
Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?

Beauty as a Key- Look, See, Pray.

Beauty in Nature is evident to most people, whether the colours of a flower or the song of a blackbird. A raspberry picked and eaten fresh is an exquisite experience; the gentleness of new beech leaves is like stroking satin. To be deprived of one or more of our five senses is rightly considered to be a great loss.

I have discovered that enjoying beauty in nature is a key that unlocks my spiritual senses. Finding the “fingerprint” of the Creator excites my spirit as well as emotions. So I use photography as a means to “record” God’s creative thought; it allows me to use Nature as a staircase to climb nearer to God.

Beauty is, for me at least, part of a three-pronged strategy for worshipping and knowing God. Becoming sensitive to the Presence and action of the Holy Spirit is the second “prong” – this is the hardest to explain as it is a “knowing” that is partly revelation of God and partly my attuned intuition. Third, but by no means least, is the role of Scripture. This is the written form of the Lord’s revealing grace through history, poetry, narrative, and prophecy- it is VITAL.

Bible “reading” by itself is good: then the effort that goes into truly comprehending the Books so they can inform and guide is considerable. Four years at Bible College was only the beginning of the beginning of me discovering Truth, paradox, mystery, and divine grace.

Learning to “do the Bible” is truly praiseworthy; the reading must affect our hearts as well as our mind. If not, we may become well-educated pieces of dead wood! Knowledge about God cannot take the place of KNOWING God.

Sometimes we struggle for closeness to God, and beat ourselves up about not reading the Bible enough (and/or not praying enough).

So if you find yourself “running rough” (or failing to connect through what we might call “religious acts”), try this approach route:

Go and FIND something absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Contemplate your “find” and ask questions of yourself (and of God).

1. Why does this move me?
2. How have I experienced God through beauty in the past?
3. What is it about this particular “beauty” that impacts my spirit?
4. Lord God, what are YOU saying to me in this?
5. Lord, please will you help me to draw closer through this beauty, and remind me of Scriptures that speak further of Your Love; then allow Your Spirit to breathe life, fire or living water in to my soul.

By the way, aren’t Foxgloves pretty?
Enjoy the photo- and seek Jesus through it!

Gnibbled by Gnats- Look, See, Pray

Gnibbled by gnats. Grrr. Not a major problem, more of an irritating inconvenience. What do gnats gnibble when they can’t eat people?

Little things with an impact far bigger than we expect can be distracting, annoying, and disruptive. Untreated- or worse still, scratched bloody- what seem like tiny aggravations can become a danger to our bodies or peace of mind.

We tend to think that it’s the major crisis or awkward problem that will cause most grief in life. Strangely, sometimes we cope better with the big things: they demand our attention and time, and we can’t ignore them. So we get on with it or get help. But gnat bites demand that we focus on them… and mosquitoes are even worse! (If you ever visit Yosemite Valley, don’t stand by the rivers without protective clothing… I did. Once. Aargh!)

Imagine standing here, admiring the mountains and river, and losing it when the itching starts. Each gnibble is insignificant(-ish). Together, they torment and terrorise our very being!

Perhaps I’m the only weak one. You may be strong-willed and single-minded. But so often in my experience it’s the “trivial” troubles that derail my progress: especially my discipleship. Following the Way of Jesus is never easy; and the small annoying habits and “I should know better” choices that make my path stonier than it need be.

The “Letter to the Hebrews” calls on us to emulate those faithful Christlike people who have run the race before us, often paying a higher cost than us, and overcome the big and little trials of faith. How? By fixing our focus on the One who overcame even the Cross. It sounds simple, even simplistic. Will we be beaten by the gnats that gnibble? Or the lions that roar? Or run to win the prize?

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It takes all sorts- Look, See, Pray

This striking thistle-like plant is Eryngium “Big Blue”, commonly known as Sea Holly.

Tall and spiky, it contrasts well with more typical “flowery” flowers. Round the head are myriad tiny flowers, popular with bees, then a crown of blue bracts. The stems range from green to strong purple and the plant stands strong long after the pollinators have finished their busy labouring.

Gardens benefit from variety of species: it gives ongoing interest, successions of colour, and a series of amazing shapes- the garden becomes architectural.

Would you choose Sea Holly over a fragrant rose? Or exclude the fruit bushes? Maybe not: but in the right place, eryngium will perform valuable service. And it is an intriguing form. They can all belong.

Gardens make quite a good example of effective churches. Some are full of one main crop. Others go showy, bright colours and “perfect” specimens. Cottage gardens have a bit of everything! Veg, herbs, fruit and flowers mixed in glorious chaos… well, apparent chaos. Proper chaos has to be planned, you know!

St Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12:17, says something profound: “If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?”

Plant, garden, body, church… they all benefit from a full range of “parts” each with a different appearance and function. Such diversity is to be welcomed and celebrated. It may mean that we don’t end up in churches where everyone is just like me (or you). That might seem desirable or sensible, but it is very limiting.

Colossians 1:20 reminds us that “through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”

The Church is to be the agency of reconciliation; and a shining example of grace enabling variety, diversity, and love.

You may be a rose, a gooseberry bush, or a piece of Sea Holly. Be what you are, JOYFULLY, and together we will all come closer to Christ. Growing together is fun!

Fire Dance- Look, See, Pray

I like to grow a few things that are different. Meet Loropetalum “Fire Dance” – a variety of Chinese witchhazel.

The first thing to hit you is the pungent pink of the small strappy petals. The second thing to hit you is the VERY pungent pink… They are not subtle, not at all. Flowering is steady, with the flowers standing out against the bronze/coppery leaves. There is a “light fragrance.” And they’re PINK.

I decided to describe it with words I might use to boast to other gardeners: Pink, Brash, Exotic, Unusual, Worth a Second Look, Spectacular. It seemed proper to match the print colour to the petals. Yep, it’s PINK. Almost magenta, not a pastel shade. It’s quite deliberately in your face. I’m very proud of its bold beauty.

Quite why I should feel proud is a mystery! I bought the shrub, and had no part in breeding its current form. I didn’t travel to the Chinese woodlands where they grow wild. I didn’t submit a blueprint to Mother Nature. I didn’t ask God to create me a special showy shrub so I can show off.

I just enjoy it.

I rather think God enjoys Loropetalum “Fire Dance” as well.

I don’t want to engage in ascerbic conversations about evolution or intelligent design. None of us were “there” in the Beginning. The “Book of Beginnings” is not a publication of the Royal Horticultural Society, nor a dry dusty scientific textbook.

In the Beginning… God spoke. Creation became to BE, and Life was called into Being. At various points in the narrative, God said “It is good.” In fact God said “It is VERY good.”

So that’s enough for me. And I’m rather thrilled that “Fire Dance” was included as part of the unfolding story of the Creator who sustains all things and is redeeming all things. Worth a second look, indeed.

Ways to the Way- Look, See, Pray

Do you have a favourite “method” of approaching God?

As groups/churches, we do things together: we typically sing praise and worship, we pray, we study Scripture and listen to our pastors/teachers, and we use rituals/symbolic actions like baptism and Communion. All these are wonderful ways to open ourselves to God, and bring our offering of worship. We learn about God’s ways AND we learn to love God for Himself.

Probably we “do” some of these things in personal devotions too.

Some find God seems closer when they are doing practical things – cooking, or building, serving others by showing compassionate Love. There are indeed many routes by which we approach.

It may well be that some of those “doings” DON’T help you- I have a friend who is not musical and endures the songs! Or the prospect of praying out loud scares you.

Finding out the most helpful approach for ourselves is a life-changer.

This page, “Look, See, Pray” exists because I find observing and enjoying nature in Creation really acts as a highway to heaven! Combined with my love of photography, the sights and sounds of our wonderful planet inspire me with awe of the Creator and Saviour- and I offer my pictures as an offering to the Lord- a child’s attempt to mimic and appreciate what Father has done.

Take a look at the astounding dragonfly in today’s photo. This beauty flew into the garden, and spent a while posing (resting) on the roses and the sun-warmed brick walls.

Quite content to pose, this gorgeous creature allowed me to admire and record moments in its existence. For me, the photo is a PRAYER of thanksgiving to the Creator. And I hope it may inspire you as well.

I have discovered that my spiritual health NEEDS exposure to nature. Fresh air, wonderful light, the wind and waves, the swish of plants in the breeze: the graceful swan, the hilarious-looking camel, a sunset or a dragonfly… These all point me God-wards. Contemplating such beauty brings me face-to-face with the One who spoke Creation into being. Then I am more likely to benefit from the words, music and habits of a “Christian life.”

So then… Do YOU have a favourite “method” of approaching God?
How would you explain it to someone who enquired about your living faith and your trust in Christ?

Be blessed as you give the question some deep thought!

Now we wait… Look, See, Pray

It is all over, they think. The Romans, who are VERY good at killing. And the religious authorities- they found their traitor, rigged a trial, and persuaded Governor Pilate to do their dirty work.

Those in the crowds believed it is a “fait accompli”– some with sadness, others with patriotic pride. Rabbi Jesus is past tense.

Scattered to the four winds to hide, most of his special friends and followers are grieved, despairing that the cryptic words Jesus had spoken now have a HUGE cross-shaped full stop ending the sentence. Even the ones who actually buried Jesus were thinking of doing a “proper” anointing of the corpse after the Sabbath. A final farewell, instead of the rushed job of the Friday evening.

Now we wait.

Today WE wait in impatient expectation, ‘cos WE have read the ending of the Gospels. THEY wait in grief (or satisfaction) for the world to be “normal” again.

Perhaps Lazarus, raised from death by Jesus, had a tiny seed of hope? Perhaps also fearing the mob will come for him too…

We have no clue what the Hosts of Heaven thought or knew. Had they seen the plan? Do angels wait with bated breath?

Saturday will be weird as we wait.

And about 2,000 years forward from THEIR day of sorrows, a bright preacher is saying “It’s Friday- but Sunday’s coming!”

Forgive? Look, See, Pray

This is a photo that surprised me… I was taking pictures at Mont St Michel, and concentrating on the low-tide water across the sands. Nice colours and reflections. I saw the heron and some gulls and used them in the composition, as one might!

When checking the photos later, I realised there was a squabble going on between the angry heron and one bolshie gull. Beaks agape, they were swearing at each other (presumably in French) and generally being disagreeable.

Then this evening I was reading an article by Dr RT Kendall about forgiveness- especially if the other party isn’t sorry or repentant or forgiving.

Isn’t it hard to forgive when the opponent is being a ***** (insert rude word of your choice) and slapping them seems appealing?

Unless you are super-human, the answer is YES. It’s very hard.

But then Jesus never said following Him would be easy. Jesus under incredible pain and pressure on the Cross cried out “Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing!” (Luke 23:34)

Not long after the Resurrection & Pentecost, the first Christian martyr was killed: in Acts 7 :59-60 we read-
“While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell into the sleep of death.

Whether the issue is about fishing rights like the gull and heron, or a deathbed act of forgiveness like Jesus and Stephen, the question of forgiveness is very real.

The Lord’s Prayer contains this statement: “Lord forgive us our trespasses AS WE FORGIVE those who trespass against us.” (see Matthew 6 v12-14). So, if we will not forgive… can we be sure God will forgive us?

That’s a big complex question, too big for a short post. What do you think?

Certainly, if we refuse to forgive another, WE will be the one hurt most… we injure ourself. Is the satisfaction of demanding an apology greater than the life-enhancing joy that comes from true forgiveness? Is there any act we can do that is more Jesus-like than to forgive?

It is Written- Look, See, Pray

Before computers, typewriters. Before that, paper & pen; earlier still it was engraving stones or using papyrus. Humans love to write things down! An aid to memory, a splash of propaganda, and expression of the soul, a way to define facts and truth. Often, writing tells our stories, the values that we hold most dear.

We interpret things in Nature as “writing” or symbols or facts.

A crab leg left on the sand at low tide. Is your imagination at work? Relic left by a fisherman? The result of a crab squabble, or a seagull raid? Has our coastline been visited by seals, otters, sharks, or rays? A helpless remnant, pincers defiantly ready- but too weak or too late?

One hour later, and the inrushing tide will erase the story and the evidence. The crab leg will be gone, who knows where.

Now, if Jesus wrote stuff down, we’d want to know what He meant. But the only incident where Jesus wrote anything down was rather odd.

People trying to condemn Jesus as a breaker of the Law of Moses captured a woman engaged in a sexual relationship. Hoping to catch Jesus out, they demanded He tell them what to do with her… either Jesus would condemn her to be stoned to death (which would cause BIG trouble with the Romans who didn’t allow the Jews to kill their “sinners”) OR Jesus would be forgiving and therefore in breach of the letter of the Law (meaning He would be condemned as a denier of the Law).

Jesus said nothing. Then stooped to write something in the sand with His finger. AND WE DON’T KNOW WHAT HE WROTE! Aargh! How frustrating… Written in the sand, and blown away by the wind.

Then Jesus spoke. “Let the one without sin throw the first stone.”

Gradually the crowd disappeared- none of them was sinless. THEN Jesus said to her “I don’t condemn you- but change the way you live! Don’t do it again.” ^{(Read the full story in John 8:1-11.)}

Written in the sand, yet justice and mercy were lovingly engraved on that woman’s heart. And His words were ALSO written in letters of fire on the conscience of the crowd!

It is written. Pay heed to the Teacher lest we lose sight of Truth.