Falling in love 28

Log and moss, Lake District

Close up mosses create their own landscape in miniature. And the closer we look, the more detail we see. Delicate fronds and feather-like leaves; small rounded pebbles; a semi decayed leaf; a spike of grass; the age-worn grain of the log. 


The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in love 27

Moonlight on the Lake, Ticino

If sunlight is golden, moon light is silvery. Living in an age of electric lights, we have forgotten the importance of the moon as a source of light. Less intense than sunlight, moonlight still casts shadows. And as we move away from artificial light allowing our eyes to adjust, moonlight is certainly strong enough for us to walk along roads and across fields.

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in love 26

Sunlight seen through rushes

The sun is key to life on earth, providing heat and light and the energy for growth – photosynthesis in green plants and solar panels on roofs. Sunlight can warm our hearts and fill us with joy. Sunlight transforms the dull and boring into things of great beauty. 

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in love 25

Water is an amazing substance! At times so still you can see your face in it; at others a tumbling foaming onrush that barely pauses as it sweeps past. In this small section of river there is water that is roaring past and water that is clinging to the banks, some is leaping into the air and some is spiralling round and round.

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in love 24

Sea view, north Brittany coast

Peeping through the trees and bushes, the view of sand and sea and a further promontory suggests adventure, but maybe also suggest time to play, relax and unwind enjoying the novelty or newness that sand and sea offer to those of us who live inland. 

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in love 23

Wengwald, Switzerland 

Fresh thick snow blankets the ground and weighs down the branches with heavy white lace. 

It is fascinating how this coating in white transform the view. Uneven surfaces are levelled off, empty spaces filled, sharp edges smoothed. Sounds are muffled yet hearing becomes more acute. What was grey and winter-worn, becomes a magical world – a world of new possibilities.

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Running Prayer

 

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

Left, right, left, right.

Leg forwards and pull back.

Breathe.

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

Under trees, across the grass, 

along a track, follow the path.

Breathe.

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

Frees the mind to engage with God.

God in this space sharing my thoughts.

Breathe.

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

Green, the glory of God,

grandeur of trees, panoply of sky.

Breathe.

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

A rosary of prayers for those I love, 

for those on my heart.

Breathe.

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

Baring my soul, God may your will be done –

this world: its plight, our mistakes.

Breathe.

Running, step by step

Mile after mile.

Strained, worn down, 

stay firm, keep faith.

Breathe.

Stop. Rest.

Amen.

Falling in love 22

Tree ferns in a courtyard at the Royal Academy, London

With a bright sun overhead, the fronds of the tree fern appear as black silhouettes of intricate detail. 

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in Love 21

Nature provides its own patchwork. How many flowers can you identify here?

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation. 

Falling in Love 20

Autumn is as colourful as spring: lime, auburn, puce, burgundy, russet, amber, carmine, copper, gold, ochre, chestnut, saffron, coral.

The world around us is full of curious, beautiful and amazing things. As small children our curiosity and our amazement knew no bounds. Every day would produce novelties- things to see, things to chew or eat, things to grab and hold, things to poke and explore. 

As we have grow older we have often lost that sense of wonder. Things that were new have become mundane. In the rush to be busy, small things flop below the radar. Decorum dictates that we shouldn’t prod or lick things and, unless we’re wine tasters, swirling stuff around our mouth and spitting are frowned upon. Stopping suddenly just to look is discouraged – it interrupts the flow of traffic. Daily routines take over. 

And our love for the world wains and falters. 

The season of creation-tide runs from 1st September till 4th October, the Feast of St Francis. Let’s fall in love again with creation.