M & L LANDSCAPING

from Lochaber Life #353 March 2023

by Wyvex Media Limited

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“Colours of day come into the mind, the sun has come up, the night is behind”.

(Songs of Worship)

As always, l look forward to March. We turn the clocks back, the sun comes up earlier and we look forward to longer, more colourful days. Amid Lochaber’s grey skies, sight of the first snowdrops in January felt like a message from heaven – “spring is coming”.

This was even more welcome than usual as two funerals gave our family a hard start to the year. At one we sang familiar, ancient words of Psalm 23, ‘The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want’, which have comforted mourners for centuries. Yet perhaps a modern translation by Eugene Peterson makes it clearer why this Psalm still speaks to grief today.

“God my Shepherd! I don’t need a thing…Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I am not afraid when you walk by my side.”[The Message]

Both of those we lost had strong Christian faith. Neither were ‘angelic’, but were loved as much for their weaknesses and eccentricities as their strengths. Both were teachers and had a positive influence on many youngsters. They would approve of the message in the other song we sang, quoted above. Here are some more of the words:

“The light of the world is risen again; The people of darkness are needing our friend. So light up the fire and let the flame burn, Open the door, let Jesus return.

“Take seeds of his Spirit, let the fruit grow, Tell the people of Jesus, let his love show”.

In March we hope seeds start growing in the garden. I pray also that “seeds of his Spirit” grow Jesus’s love in our churches and communities this year.