Thought for the Day - Tuesday 13 October

Thought for the Day – Tuesday 13th October ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’ (Revelation 4: 11) These last few days have been full of those ‘Wow’ moments of which I often speak. Firstly, there was a beautiful skein of geese in a clear blue sky against the backdrop of Arran honking away in the sky as they made their way south for the winter. What a truly amazing sight that was – this huge ‘V’ shape stretching for what seemed like miles where they were honking out their instructions to each other and never once did a goose leave the formation – it is amazing how they do that! Then, that same day driving past a lush green field right next to the road there in the very middle of the field grazing together were two wonderful looking deer. That immediately made me think of that line from the film Bambi, just before Bambi’s mother is killed, where the warning is given ‘man is in the meadow’! These deer were no doubt alert and looking out for ‘man in the meadow’ but were nonetheless enjoying the newly rain-refreshed grass. They were spectacular to see! Who would imagine that one could have a ‘Wow’ moment at the Raith round-about but that’s where the next amazing moment took place! Sitting at a red light waiting to go up the hill towards Bellshill right there next to me with its head in the bushes obviously looking out for a frog or something was a beautiful blue heron – at first I thought it dead and caught in the bushes because it was so still but then it moved its head a little further into the bush and you could see its graceful shape and it was indeed beautiful. Then only this morning, I opened the blinds in my study to be regaled by the tree in the front garden looking so spectacular in all its autumn finery – it just made me go ‘Wow’ isn’t it beautiful and isn’t nature wonderful. We may be in the midst of what everyone calls unprecedented times but I think we can find it so reassuring to know that some things have not changed – God is still there working away in the background and life is still going on as normal for us to see - if we look for it. The birds are still flying south, the deer are still there at dusk for us to see as they come out of their woodlands to feed, nature is still as beautiful as ever as that blue graceful heron testifies and it is still as predictable as ever as witnessed in the leaves changing into their beautiful autumn colours. So take heart, God is still with us and there is so much of life which is still the same and which is still a great blessing to us – we just have to remember to look for those things. Prayer Loving God, We can seek and find you in Creation, in the world you have made and the people you have called. Your vulnerable, powerful Lamb, Jesus, is our shepherd and guide, leading us to share your abundant life. Lord, help us to recognise you are here among us in the beauty of a morning and in the nature around us and in the midst of all we are experiencing now, may we still look for you, find you and offer you our glory, honour and praise, of which you are worthy. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.