We’re en route to visit our elder son and his wife. And I’m this mad woman passenger, happily snapping scenes out the car window, to the amusement of my husband and annoyance of other motorists, no doubt.
What passes like an oh so familiar blur for others is a source of endless fascination for me. I rarely travel any distance, due to fatigue and pain, and this is less than an hour’s duration. But I’m greedily drinking in the view, like a thirsty woman deprived of liquid refreshment.
Being housebound by M.E and chronic illness can feel confining at times, so when I have an opportunity to view a broader expanse of sky, an accumulation of cumulus, flash of greenery and a bright yellow beam of rapeseed, then I lap it up, enthralled by the beauty all around me, lush with loveliness. Though I cannot deny the way that my life of stillness, retreat and rest speaks volumes to me too.
When we walk with the Lord through challenging soul night-watches, we learn a little bit more about how lovingly He inhabits each moment, light or dark as it may be. We begin to have deeper discernment of God’s thoughts and ways, as we surrender our drives, desires and frustrations to Him and open our eyes to the sheer wonder of His glorious presence with us, rendering the mundane beautiful.
Gently bucolic
Earth’s verdant garden is gently bucolic,
blooming like Eden, with dawn love-light
But in life’s dark night-watch season, our
pure, full moon will almost wither, and
intuition blossom, as we wander long there
©joylenton2017
“If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me’, even the night shall be light about me; indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You” ~ Psalms 138: 11-12 NKJV
Life may try to steal our hope and joy, and external beauty may wither and wane, but we always have Hope when we turn to our loving Father God. He invites us into an eternal, sacred dance, a deeper exploration of joy than we’ve ever known before and a desire to follow Him in the here and now, linking hands and hearts across the universe.
Exploring joy
My broken self is a haunted prisoner
of dark poison secrets—heart of glass
But I wake from decay and embrace my
Father. We dance, celebrate with a kiss
and sail this perfumed ocean universe,
exploring joy like a lively velvet star
©joylenton2017
Poetry Joy 
I am shamelessly hitchhiking, catching hold of this phrase: “sail this perfumed universe”
Always happy and honoured to have your company, Laurie, and what a journey it would be to sail free, leaving earthly cares and concerns behind us! 🙂 xo
THIS: “Life may try to steal our hope and joy, and external beauty may wither and wane, but we always have Hope when we turn to our loving Father God. He invites us into an eternal, sacred dance, a deeper exploration of joy than we’ve ever known before and a desire to follow Him in the here and now, linking hands and hearts across the universe.”
Tara, I feel blessed to link hands, hearts and blogs with you across the pond, if not the universe. Thank you for being here, sweet friend! 🙂 xo
Oh Joy, these words are so encouraging. Today, I was reminded that our enemy loves to press us into a dark despairing pit, by reminding us of what we have not yet seen fulfilled…but that it is God who gently reminds us to open our eyes to His steadfast and sure Promises and the many gifts in the waiting …just like your post so powerfully shares.
This is my absolute favourite today: “But I wake from decay and embrace my Father”. So simple, isn’t it?! And yet I for one make it so hard sometimes. Surrender and embrace. Again and again. I guess that’s one thing waiting teaches us best, huh? If He’d give us everything now, we’d miss the beauty of the embrace. Each time I’m led to surrender and embrace my joy and my yearning for more of God just grows.
Dear Anna, thank you for the gift of your sweet presence and insightful words here: “it is God who gently reminds us to open our eyes to His steadfast and sure Promises and the many gifts in the waiting.” They bring hope and joy to me as I wait for so many dreams, schemes and plans to be fulfilled, providing they are truly a part of God’s overriding will for my life, of course. God’s word will not return to Him void, and neither will His promises.
I am grateful for the poetic simplicity of : “But I wake from decay and embrace my Father”, because of all it implies about a hungry heart finally seeing the darkness she is in and how God loves her enough to rescue her for an eternity by His side. The life of faith is all about “surrender and embrace”, isn’t it? We may fight it at first but there is such sweet fruit to be gleaned in the yielding! It’s clear to see how much God is teaching you in this season of retreat and resting in Him. Bless you, my friend! xo ❤
I can understand why you go wild with your camera and your heart is refreshed as you view the countryside, Joy. I never tire of God’s beauty in nature. Thank you for sharing these refreshments with us. That field of rapeseed is beautiful. As are your poems. Yes, we will always have hope when we turn to our Loving Father. I hope you have a great time with your son, his wife, and your little grandson. 🙂 Blessings of strength to you! Love and hugs!
Oh Trudy, I smiled widely at your description of me going “wild with (my) camera”, because it is an irresistible urge that overtakes me, a longing to see, savour and save the beauty and wonder of life before me. I can see why you “never tire of God’s beauty in nature”, possibly partly due your own health challenges keeping you indoors more than you want to be. Mostly, your love of the natural world it is evident on your site, especially in the wonderful images you share!
I do love the sunshine yellow glow of rapeseed. It’s very much a “look at me!” invitation to weary travellers. Mustard is also grown in the region, so I’m not always sure which one I am photographing from a distance… lol. The image was taken a few weeks ago, hence the bleak barrenness of the trees. But we did get to spend some quality time with our little grandson and his parents when they were up this way during Easter. Energy and strength are definitely needed now and recovery is my main objective! Blessings, love and hugs to you, dear friend. xo ❤
Dear Joy,
I am so thankful that you were able to travel to see your family! What a beautiful sight that golden glowing field must have been! And just think, we are the happy recipients of that “mad woman’s” dash with the camera! 🙂 I love all of your poetry, but this stanza holds such a promise:
“But in life’s dark night-watch season, our
pure, full moon will almost wither, and
intuition blossom, as we wander long there”
That’s the key isn’t it? To let our God-given intuition take over and blossom so that we can see how HIS light overtakes even the darkest night watch. I am so inspired by your hopeful spirit, my friend, and want to keep that same hope from our Lord awakened in my own heart. Many blessings, hugs and love to you! xoxo
Dear Bettie, it’s always a joy for me to see family, whether those close at hand or further away. The weariness it causes is compensated for by the love and companionship we share, and the photographic opportunities it often presents. I’m glad you feel like a “happy recipient” of my mad woman snapping of the scenery as I travel, and those things that are captured a little closer to home. My photo editing has become another form of artistic expression that I relax with.
You have a beautiful knack for seeing to the heart of everything I write, especially here: “That’s the key isn’t it? To let our God-given intuition take over and blossom so that we can see how HIS light overtakes even the darkest night watch.” Amen, my friend, it certainly is! You are experiencing these things in much the same way, and I see Hope threaded through every post you share. Abundant blessings, hugs and love to you, sweet friend! xoxo
Reblogged this on Pastor Michael Moore's Blog and commented:
A powerful statement of faith and hope… even in the darkness, light shines!
“When we walk with the Lord through challenging soul night-watches, we learn a little bit more about how lovingly He inhabits each moment, light or dark as it may be. “
Dear Michael, I’m grateful if these words have spoken to you, and I hope and pray your readers will also be blessed in reading them. Thanks for sharing, friend! ❤
So glad you were able to get out and about for a bit, Joy! Your poetry makes my heart sing and yearn, as always, friend!
Thank you, June! It was good to get beyond my four walls for a change. Expanding our horizons doesn’t always involve leaving the house, but I am truly thankful for those times when I can do so briefly. Your inspiring, encouraging words and sweet presence always fill me with joy! Bless you, dear friend. 🙂 xo
Joy, I love your poetry and your thoughts here! Your poetry expresses such deep feelings and also offers hope. And these thought stuck out to me – “When we walk with the Lord through challenging soul night-watches, we learn a little bit more about how lovingly He inhabits each moment, light or dark as it may be.” and “Life may try to steal our hope and joy, and external beauty may wither and wane, but we always have Hope when we turn to our loving Father God.” Always we have hope in God.
Blessings to you my sweet friend! xoxo
Gayl, how kind you are! I do tend to be naturally deep, though it’s other people who seem to point it out to me. Maybe I’ve grown used to my own way of pondering! It’s lovely to hear which words in particular have found a home in your heart. I’m leaning in to your offering here: “Always we have hope in God.” Amen! Blessings and hugs to you, dear friend. xoxo
So happy you had the chance to take this trip. Your joy of life and its simple pleasures, and your deep faith is an inspiration.
Thanks, Deborah! It’s taken me a while to learn to fully appreciate life’s simple pleasures, but I see it as a grace gift that has arisen from the limitations of having chronic illness. Bless you, friend. 🙂 xo
Dearest Joy….there are so many words of wisdom here that I merely cannot find a place to begin. It would seem that each phrase rings with the deepest of truths & that is one of the best of blessings. Big hugs to you….hope you have a blessed weekend!
Dearest Mitzi, what a joy to see you here, my friend! I’m truly thankful to have been given thoughts that have stirred your soul. God certainly finds a way in which to make His Truth come alive in our hearts and minds. Big hugs returned to you! Have a blessed Father’s Day weekend. xo ❤