Jesus withdrew by boat to a lonely place.
Where they could be by themselves.
We must sometimes leave the race.
If we want to be truly ourselves.

The disciples said this is a lonely place.
And the time slipped by.
But Jesus fed all the people in that place.
And saved many a sigh.

I was on a boat myself today.
It is good occasionally to be alone at sea.
A chance to worries lay.
And further to see.

I’m afraid I ran aground.
It teaches you to take everything in the round.

………

He withdrew by boat
But then he fed five thousand
And not desert them

………

See Matthew 14: 13-21

So may your ways be known on earth.
And all nations know your saving help.
We all have our worth.
As long as we seek your help.

The words of this psalm are so familiar.
What is said in prayers for Parliament.
To help us all look to the distant far.
And to be in this moment present.

Let the nations be glad and exult.
For you rule the world with justice.
You do not need to look always for a result.
But you do need  seek out all injustice.

Let the people praise you.
O God, let all the peoples praise you.

……..

Let people’s praise you
Let all the people praise you
Let nations be glad

……..

See Psalm 80

Raise a song and sound the thimble.
The sweet sounding harp and the lute.
We search for a sign, a symbol.
Our own music need never be mute.

I am reading the life of composer Carl Davis.
Listening to his World At War.
And hearing war’s threatening basis
So powerful and moving a score.

And yesterday  I watched Shindler’s List.
Portraying so profound a tragedy.
No true music , can we resist.
In its tones can we find some remedy.

Music reaches our inner soul.
And help keeps us whole.

…….

Sounding the thrimble
The sweet sounding harp and lute
And raise a song too

…….

See Psalm 80

One day within your courts.
Is better than a thousand elsewhere.
Sometimes we are out of sorts.
We shed even the odd tear.

Saying the Rosary helps the soul.
It’s a kind of focused mindfulness.
And keeps us present and whole.
A slow progression out of a mess.

We start with the joyful mysteries.
Our hearts are raised by the luminous ones.
We are cast down by the sorrowful mysteries.
But victory over death comes with the glorious ones.

So the long night of questions passes slowly.
But all is not worry , we can remember the holy.

…….

A day in your courts
Is worth a thousand elsewhere
That is what we know

……..

See Psalm 83

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant.
looking for fine pearls.
If he finds one of great value , a purchase is urgent.
And he sells all the other pearls.

I am reading the last page of Tolstoy’s Resurrection.
That night an entirely new life began for Nekhlyudov.
He was seeking a new type of perfection.
His thoughts arose like a dove.

He realised that we live in the absurd conviction.
That in life, given for our enjoyment, we are masters of our lives.
So much of what we hold dear is fiction.
We do not know what really thrives.

If we have been sent into this world to till.
It must be for some purpose and by someone’s will.

……,

Sent into this world.
We come for a purpose by will
Not for enjoyment

……..

See Matthew 13 : 44-46

A God of tenderness and compassion.
Slow to anger, rich in kindness.
Something beyond all reason.
And waiting for us to bless.

The newly fully grown wheat’s scent.
The music of  Schubert’s Rosamunde playing.
The gentle twilight, all worries spent.
The chorus of blackbird and wood pigeon singing.

The night gently invading the cottage garden.
Here for a moment I am close to God’s compassion.
A falling away of every burden.
And pointless passion.

Why worry if God is near
When you have nature here.

……..

God’s compassion
Tenderness and no anger
Is here for us all

……..

See Exodus 33