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| St Ninian's Chapel, Isle of Whithorn |
I have long loved this song by Van Morrison, and it's proved to be a remarkably appropriate backdrop to these days and weeks...
(you can listen to it here)
(you can listen to it here)
- oh, and I have skipped the first few lines!
…. Standing on the beach at sunset
All the boats keep moving slow
In the glory of the flashing light in the evenings glow
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
You brought it to my attention that everything was made in God
Down through centuries of great writings and paintings
Everything lives in God
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals
Down through the history of time
Is and was in the beginning and evermore shall be
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
Whatever it takes to fulfill his mission
That is the way we must go
But you’ve got to do it your own way
Tear down the old, bring up the new
And up on the hillside its quiet
Where the shepherd is tending his sheep
And over the mountains and the valleys
The countryside is so green
Standing on the highest hill with a sense of wonder
You can see everything is made in God
Head back down the roadside and give thanks for it all
All the boats keep moving slow
In the glory of the flashing light in the evenings glow
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
You brought it to my attention that everything was made in God
Down through centuries of great writings and paintings
Everything lives in God
Seen through architecture of great cathedrals
Down through the history of time
Is and was in the beginning and evermore shall be
When will I ever learn to live in God?
When will I ever learn?
He gives me everything I need and more
When will I ever learn?
Whatever it takes to fulfill his mission
That is the way we must go
But you’ve got to do it your own way
Tear down the old, bring up the new
And up on the hillside its quiet
Where the shepherd is tending his sheep
And over the mountains and the valleys
The countryside is so green
Standing on the highest hill with a sense of wonder
You can see everything is made in God
Head back down the roadside and give thanks for it all
(I do give thanks! And thanks to all of you who have travelled with me, taking time to read these reflections and, I hope, sharing my delight and wonder in discovering some new things along the way.
I really do appreciate it.
Go well, wherever your journey is taking you.)
I really do appreciate it.
Go well, wherever your journey is taking you.)
I remember this being sung (badly) by the Heaton Chapel Diehards twenty years ago. Yowsers.
ReplyDeletePerhaps that's why it stuck in the memory!
ReplyDeleteBut the resonances of hillsides/sheep, architecture/great Cathedrals were too much to ignore :-)
Hey Joss just come across your beautiful blog!
ReplyDeleteI hope you found your journey to be spiritually uplifting and refreshing.
Shame you missed Lindisfarne. Been a few times now, it's one of our favourite places. If you've not walked the pilgrim posts I strongly recommend you do next time you're up there - preferably bare foot. Believe me, you won't regret it :-) !!
Blessings to you,
Cheuk and Nicola
Cheuk, thanks for your comments, how nice to hear from you! The whole Sabbatical experience was very positive and it's good to be back in parish now. We're on holiday in the north east in August, so may get to Lindisfarne then. Hope all's well with you both,
ReplyDeleteJoss
Hope you have great holiday!
ReplyDeleteIf you get the chance, pop in and see the people at the Community of Aidan and Hilda at Open Gate on Lindisfarne. Fantastic bunch there. We're both Explorers with them. They have a great ministry. We've been on a number of their retreats.
Oh, and you have GOT to try the local fudge!! Scrummy :-)