“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.” – Psalm 96:11-12
I’m writing this whilst it’s pouring with rain but looking out into my garden there is a blaze of colour from the roses, geraniums and other perennials - it is a joy to behold. My garden is jubilant. Which reminds me of psalm 96. We do have so much to be joyful about and with the warmth of a couple of weeks ago and the rain we’ve had, our gardens are certainly blooming – they’re joyful.
We live in a very colourful world, a world that can inspire and fascinate our imaginations. It is also this time of year that we may be planning to visit another
country for our holiday or visiting somewhere in this country. Wherever we might go we have the opportunity to discover and experience new things. This could be a different culture, different foods and a different landscape. All things to inspire us. We are so lucky to live at a time when we have these opportunities to travel further from home. But we shouldn’t forget that right on our doorstep we have some of the best landscapes be it farmland or the Peak District and the Staffordshire Moorlands. There is so much to be joyful about.
Later this month school and university finish for another year and our young people are no doubt joyful that school is over for another year and they can look forward to lazy days and holidays. Days where we can hear the sea resounding, fields that are jubilant and where we may hear the forest sing for joy!
So, as we move into the summer season, let us take the opportunity to discover more about our own country or maybe another country and be joyful in all that each day can offer us.
Maggie
Reader in the Uttoxeter Area of Parishes