We were sitting in evening prayer, a contemplative service, listening to the wind and our hearts.
Storm Bram was blowing a hooley outside, and there was a bump. As we finished the service we explored the forecourt to see what had happened: a car parked under tree had been hit by a large branch, but it appeared undamaged by it. Two days ago someone ran into my vehicle on a dark rainy night in Glasgow. We stood in the pouring rain and together surveyed the damage with the torches on our phones. Not much was visible, we sorted the matter amicably. It is the season of Good Will. Later, it turned out that although no visible damage could be seen, something under the bumper had been dislodged, and probably needs some attention soon.
It can be like that in my relationships - a bump that appears to be negligible turns out to have upset my interior fine tuning and will need attention soon. I had one of those bumps the other day, and felt quite bereft and out of sorts, wondering how to pray and sensing that I needed to be still and let the Holy Spirit pray for me in the situation. My dog sleeps in my study to be near, and she felt my restlessness. I decided to sit on the floor to be close to her while I continued listening in prayer. She placed herself on my lap, occasionally licking my hands. After about twenty minutes she moved into her basket next to me on the floor. And my prayer had been heard: I was in a better place, and more free to consider other parts of the day ahead.
Here at the Bield I find over and again that the animals about us, cows, sheep, squirrels, deer, chickens, wild geese, and other animals, convey something of the love of God through their presence to me, and they give me attention now and I am seen and moved by them.
Today when I go walking, I stop and greet the cows on the farm. I smell them, and they come close puffing clouds of vapor. We give each other attention. During Advent we are waiting for the revelation of God’s love. A baby, first seen and smelt by animals in a stable. We attend to the coming of the Christ-child in a stable where, soon, the attention of shepherds were drawn, and choirs of angels appeared. And to me, they are “over and over announcing [my] place in the family of things.”(1) May you know your place in the family of things this Christmas, and get the attention you need, and may you share it with others.
From all at The Bield, A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you
Robin
(1)This quote from Wild geese by Mary Olive