30th November 2020

Today is my birthday! Last year I was 70 and I will always remember that day. I was in Zambia and I had told one of the priests of the event. So when I came to visit a group of children who were receiving some simple gifts - a notebook, pencil and bar of soap to help them get back to school - they surprised me by singing Happy Birthday followed by sharing a large birthday cake (there were about 140 of us!!). So I hope that you will forgive me for sharing a couple of photos from Zambia.

I have just finished a session talking about Laudato Si - a papal encyclical on the care of the environment - and Climate change.

Still remembering last year I was delighted that the Woodland Trust had decided to use my 70th birthday as a day that they would try to plant one million trees. I have always liked the idea of planting a tree - and in particular an oak tree. My grandaughter managed to get permission and fioud an oak tree to plant - one of more than 160 trees planted that day at Benhall in Cheltenham. My wife planted the tree, my daughters planted other trees and a friend provided it. Jennipher - a friend in Zambia promised to plant a tree for me in her garden and 140 children joined in my birthday celebrations.

The world is interconnected and so much richer because of it. I love to see the swallows in December when I am in Zambia. The rain has started falling there and the world is being transformed. the brown dusty world has suddenly turned green and the animals are rejoicing after the past dry months.Fortunately this year and last, rain has fallen and they have had crops, but many years have seen drought - the weather in Zambia is changing. Now they rejoice in the rain - when temperatures are in the 30s rain is very refreshing!!

My oak could not be found today, but close by the Lord had arranged for a couple of the same age to grow. Whatever we try to do for the Lord he will magnify! These two oaks are oaks planted for my 70th birthday - along with a million other trees!!

Here flowers are less abundant, but my cyclamen are just starting to flower again. Earlier in the year a hedgehog gorged himself on the the flowers and leaves and I thought that they had gone for good - but no he will find food in abundance when he emerges again in the Spring.

I captured the wanderings of the hedgehog thanks to a trail camera . This week I set it up close to my bird feeders. So I will add some of these photos this week. My coal tit is there as is my angel (the magpie) but that is another story - suffice it to say that the magpie connects me to God who connects the whole universe.

I have another visitor.

The Cosmos is losing most of the flowers but I am keen that I get more plants next year so I will leave it to spread its seed.

The Spring bulbs continue to grow strong leaves and buds are already appearing on the trees. New life is already at its embryonic stage.

Fungus is a very interesting plant which is important in recycling dead trees - in Zambia termites perform the same task.

Sometimes I am amazed by the complexities of nature. I don't believe this can be chance! Lets enjoy the diversity of live on our planet and get out and observe how the natural world will bring forth wonderful, beautiful new life over the next few months.

With love and prayers,

Chris

Flowers in November

 

24th November 2020

I started to write this blog as The Spirit of Christmas in February 2013, then restarted as The Real Spirit of Christmas in January 2014, but neither developed.

At least on this occasion I am starting before Christmas - perhaps a more appropriate time of year for this blog! I am going to set myself a target of providing a weekly blog with pictures - mainly from my garden.

We have been in a strange world for the past 8 or 9 months. I have been very fortunate because I live in a pleasant part of the country. Here in Cheltenham there are many open spaces in which to relax and I have a garden which I love.

I am a real softy and enjoy some of the Christmas films. Few are artistic or technical triumphs and the plot is almost the same for all. At least one of the key characters is driven by success and money and has no time for the "frivolous" things of life. They meet the other key character and recognise and stsrt to see beauty in nature and in people. They fall in love and live happiliy everafter

I want to focus on nature. It is easy to get stuck inside with electromic devices and miss what is happening outside. Yesterday I went into the garden with the intent of finding something to photograph. I know that a Cosmos plant (a rather impressive name!) is in flower. So I was sure I had one subject. However, I find that there are a number of different plants currently in flower, as well as bulbs pushing shoots up through the soil and berries adorning the trees and bushes.

My faith is very important to me. The Christian church effectively squeezes it's story into four or five months - strting at the end of November with Advent and reaching a climax in April with Easter.

We start now with a period of reflection as we await the arrival of Jesus (God) as a little baby and look forward to celebrating his birthday. This year I am determined to have a very special Christmas. I will reflect during Advent to prepare for a wonderful celebration. I don't intend to meet others inside, but, if allowed will meet outside and perhaps go for a walk. I will think about what virtual actities we can enjoy together as a family. Maybe a virtual Christmas can involve family throughout the Country and the World!

I start now just before Advent which is the preparation for Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It is easy to forget that Jesus was a real person born about 2000 years ago. There is a lot of historical information about him.

My garden is far from the tidiest and my photography leaves an awful lot to be desired, however life is pretty messy in reality - unlike the impression we might usually get from social media.

I will do my best to honour my weekly commitment and if one person finds it useful and is perhaps inspired to go out and see what joys nature has instore for her, then I will be very pleased.

As I write my friendly coal tit is knocking on my window before he takes a couple of sunflower seeds from the feeder - it is as if he is asking permission before moving to the feeding station.

With my love and prayers during this time,

Chris