Spring Devotional 2020
The Daffodils
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
William Wordsworth (first verse)
The polar ‘breeze’ last week brought with it waltzing snow flurries. Jokes about summer being that one day early in the month were shared with wistful laughter. And yet, as I walked along the ichthys path it was clear that, even with such unseasonal special effects, spring has arrived. The daffodils, and other spring heralds, are in bloom and the promise of warmer days, and colourful displays, remains true. God’s creative touch is everywhere (not to forget the efforts of our Quiet Gardeners as well)! I am reminded of the old hymn “This is My Father’s World” (Maltbie Davenport Bobcock, c. 1901):
This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings, The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world: I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas; His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father’s world, The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white, Declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear him pass; He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father’s world. O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world: why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring! God reigns; let the earth be glad!
Although we cannot gather at church, still being vigilant about social distancing due to COVID 19, the Quiet Garden, in person or in your mind’s eye, can still bring the abiding presence of God to the fore. And not only to us at St. Helen’s. As I took the photo above a passerby called out and said “Thanks for this, this garden. I am not a church person but it has often given me solace.” Thanks be to God! Alleluia!