The Grandeur of God

Today, from the archives, this scrumptious morsel of words that bear reading and re-reading, by Gerard Manley Hopkins

“The world is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;

IMG_7189

berries
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed.  Why do men then now not reck his rod?*
IMG_7186
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;

IMG_7116
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

IMG_7091

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;

IMG_7111
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs–

IMG_7192
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.”

IMG_7216

–by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889)

I’m grateful for the Spirit of God who makes those He inhabits to be lights in dark places despite themselves!  Shine on!

–LS

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jn.8:12 ESV

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Mt.5:14 ESV

————————

*”reck His rod” = heed His divine authority

Edited from the Archives–Dec.3,2010

We have seen His glory

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light…

P1130425

And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned

P1130432

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

P1130433

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world…

P1130435

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,

P1130436

and we have seen his glory…

P1130439
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace…for grace and truth came through Jesus Christ…(and) to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

–LS

We, as believers, are of all people most blessed in this season as we celebrate our Savior’s coming.
May God’s light shine all around you and your family this Christmas season and then through you to enlighten your world.

———–

“And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts…” II Pet. 1:19 ESV

I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of LIFE! Jn.8:12

[Meditations drawn from Matthew 4:16,  John 1 and a late winter’s day hike up our beloved Scout Mt.—LS]

We dug the hole…

We chose the spot
We dug the hole

P1100783

We laid the maples in the ground
To have and hold

P1100780

As autumn falls
To winters sleep
We pray that somehow in the spring
The roots grow deep

P1100785P1100786
And many years from now
Long after we are gone
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless the dawn…

[Lyrics by Andrew Peterson]

P1100771

This is the story of parenting, symbolically played out this spring in our front yard as we planted my fledgling maple tree, raised in hope, from a stray seed…

Take a moment to enjoy Andrew Peterson’s sentimental reflection in ‘Planting Trees’.  Have a tissue handy.

P1100797

Blessings on you in your tree planting…

–LS