During Lent this year I have been participating in the Shipston Deanery weekly “Soul Space” , poetry and music leading to discussion on how they assist the way we think and pray particularly during the weeks leading up to Easter. Its been lovely exploring some of the small beautiful village churches and my first visit was to Tilmington where in the 1930’s all the church woodwork was replaced by Robert Thompson of Kilburn whose “signature” was, and still is a carved mouse. There are 11 mice carved throughout the church.

The mouse motif came about whilst carving in a church and commenting about “being as poor as a church mouse” .

The theme of the sessions was ‘how to pray’ and how poetry in particular assists  us. There has been an inspiring, varied amount of simple and inspiring words and music and times of silence for reflection and I think back to previous blogs I have written with new insight. Most of my ramblings have centred around the nature I observe around me and how the seasons transform. I think back to my time with my son in Dorset when we were searching for kingfishers. The small bright blue and orange birds of slow moving or still water. They fly rapidly, low over water and hunt fish from riverside perches. Blink and you will miss them as they dart along rivers and streams at high speeds all year round, and I remember watching and waiting to no avail beside the fish farm near where my son lives.   

It is their breeding season between April and August and that is when you may spot them because they are out and about more as they have extra mouths to feed. A pair of kingfishers may have to catch at least 100 small fish a day to feed their young. Bruce my son had found a spot on one of his regular morning runs where slow flowing water from the river Bourne had dense cover and drove me to the meadow. We did not have to wait too long before there was a bright blue flash of life from the river bank into the water and back. Magic! It was worth the wait and expectation. My mind was taken back to that day, when I heard the words of the poem ‘Disclosure’  by Ann Lewin, read for our Poetry and Prayer group when discussing the period of Lent and Resurrection. Died, Risen and Will come again.

DISCLOSURE , Ann Lewin

Prayer is like watching for the Kingfisher. All you can do is

Be where he is likely to appear, and

Wait

Often, nothing much happens; there is space , silence and

Expectancy

No visible sign , only the knowledge that he’s been there.

And may come again

Seeing or not seeing cease to matter,

You have been prepared, but sometimes, when you’ve almost

Stopped expecting it,

A flash of brightness

 gives encouragement

BM