In recent years, as I have aged, the pain and horror of Christ’s Passion has brought increasing grief, shame and repentance. At such times I have found comfort in long walks on the beach with Indy.
This past Easter Sunday, while we walked across the back beach towards the sea, l kept thinking of those lines from that great hymn by Isaac Watts, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Okay, I thought. That’s a given. But now what? I have to do something. What can I actually do? One silly old man?
Then we turned past the huge pines onto the main beach towards the sunrise. All I could think of at that moment was: “he is risen!”
The cloud soaring above, the golden light of dawn behind it.
That glorious light spreading over sea and land and blessing the early morning walkers and their dogs.
The immensity of heaven, the smallness of our busy human lives.
The spirit spoke and touched my heart.
I took a photo. And then I painted this.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
In recent years, as I have aged, the pain and horror of Christ’s Passion has brought increasing grief, shame and repentance. At such times I have found comfort in long walks on the beach with Indy.
This past Easter Sunday, while we walked across the back beach towards the sea, l kept thinking of those lines from that great hymn by Isaac Watts, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.
Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.
Okay, I thought. That’s a given. But now what? I have to do something. What can I actually do? One silly old man?
Then we turned past the huge pines onto the main beach towards the sunrise. All I could think of at that moment was: “he is risen!”
The cloud soaring above, the golden light of dawn behind it.
That glorious light spreading over sea and land and blessing the early morning walkers and their dogs.
The immensity of heaven, the smallness of our busy human lives.
The spirit spoke and touched my heart.
I took a photo. And then I painted this.
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
