with words from Hugh Latimer, which bought a tear to my eye. Then my paintings!
Latimer`s last words
Good day to you all, my brothers and sisters. Also to those who are yet to come to the realization that we are all part of the same body.
Hugh Latimer took part, with Thomas Cranmer and Nicholas Ridley, in the Oxford disputations against a group of Catholic theologians and world not recant his Protestant faith. On 16 October 1555, Ridley and Latimer were led to their martyrdom. Ridley was fully robed, dressed as a bishop. Latimer wore a simple frieze frock. The seventy-two-year-old Latimer followed feebly behind Ridley. Ridley gave his clothes away to those standing by and Latimer quietly stripped to his shroud. As they were fastened to their stakes, Ridley`s brother tied a bag of gunpowder to each of their necks. And then, as a burning faggot was laid at the feet of Ridley, Latimer spoke his famous words.
Be of good comfort, Master Ridley, and play the man; we shall this day light such a candle, by God`s grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out.
Hugh Latimer (c. 1485-1555)
So having today taken my mother and attended our Thursday morning communion service, in the Church of England, at All Saints church, I and we may remember the Martyrs who were killed for Christ.
Listening to that other voice
Clive Staples Lewis was an Irish-born writer and scholar. An atheist from the age of fifteen he slowly returned to faith in his early thirties and became a well-known Christian apologist. This quotation reminds us of the need to take control of life`s events and to listen to the voice of God who wants to change us.
The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings; coming in out of the wind.
We can only do it for moments at first. But from those moments the new sort of life will be spreading through our system: because now we are letting Him work at the right part of us. It is the difference between paint which is merely laid on the surface, and a dye or stain which soaks right through. He never talked vague, idealistic gas. When He said, `Be perfect`, He meant it. He meant that we must go in for the full treatment. It is hard; but the sort of compromise we are all hankering after is harder - in fact, it is impossible. It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary decent egg. We must be hatched or go bad.
C S Lewis (1898-1963)
I dont know about you, but I find most interesting the bit at the end about comparing us with eggs! An egg not only has to be in the right warm environment, which is coming from an outside source, it also has to work hard from the inside, pecking to get out.
Its not being taught that, or copying and so using learnt behavior. No, its created with the drive to struggle for freedom. Even though it has no conception of what that is.
Those of us who struggle to establish the kingdom of God on earth as it is in Heaven cannot truly know what that would be like and yet we work away at it.
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Part of my work is in using creative art to express and share my inner being with the outer world. So without further ado, here are some photos of it, for you my brothers and sisters.
Well my brothers and sisters, there are a few more photos which I like, but I do not wish to put too much on. Just looking above though. Look at that movement and look of dimension. Its as if a figure is vaulting over a couple of bars!
Have a good day my brothers and sisters and know that you are so loved. Especially the many in France and the Ukraine whom I thank for giving you attention to my art and the writing I share, often from others that means a lot to me.
Know that we are all loved and lets give a thought to those who have not only no internet access, but no food or shelter today.
Peace and love to all beings.
Brother Peter.
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