Seeker

Yesterday after some energetic gardening I made and ate a cucumber sandwich, using a cucumber from our garden. I ate this cucumber sandwich mindlessly while scrolling through messages on my smartphone. In retrospect I can say the cucumber sandwich was delicious, but I’m ashamed to say I failed to notice and appreciate it at the time. My mind was on other things. That is not a good way to eat. That is not how to enjoy the good things of life. That is not how to engender gratitude for the simple delights of everyday. It is the antithesis of living in the present moment. I had forgotten about that cucumber sandwich (which I had hardly noticed). This morning I remembered it when I read the  'iBenedictines'  blog. There I found a timely reminder to take time to savour and be grateful for whatever is there in the present moment. It seems that 'Digitalnun' had also prepared and eaten a cucumber sandwich yesterday, but she had noticed and savoured its delight. When...

There were many things I was particularly grateful for yesterday, but I'll let winter sunshine stand for them all. It was a beautiful sunny day, so after church we (D and I) went for a pub lunch and a roam around some places we like. Only a few days ago these fields at Easington were covered in snow and the sky was grey. It's often windy on the common at Brill hill, but yesterday it was still and bright. There was even an ice-cream vendor parked here and doing good trade, although it is still cold. What a difference the sun makes! Even to snowdrops on the shady side of Ludgershall churchyard. After all, without the sun there would be no life on this planet earth. I love the prayer attributed to Francis of Assissi, the 'Canticle of the Sun'. One section of it praises God for the sun: We praise you Lord for all your your creatures, especially for Brother Sun who is the day through whom you give us light. And he is beautiful a...