OK! What was she talking about?

I was musing over my last blog thinking folk will be wondering if I have completely lost it!

Let me explain, I belong to a small group of Christian Scribblers, I don't get together with them very much, no time! But when I do I generally manage to write some prose or verse etc.

Well, this time we had a kind invite by one of the Scribblers to her home, Brockworth Court. I don't know what I was expecting, but it most certainly was not to walk on thick oak floors where King Henry and his second wife Ann Boleyn had trod. I am known for an imagination that is often out of control but on this occasion it went off like a rocket with a bent stick! In, out and round about until we were given our project to write for thirty minutes on 'the first thing that struck me was........' There was to be no talking until the bell would ring thirty minutes later.

I couldn't climb the stairs, too excited, didn't want the garden just wanted to sit, anywhere but quickly.

I have had such a busy year so far, appointments of my making, appointments made by others, be here, be there, quick, gotta rush, look at the time, mind the traffic, look at the que's on and on. But on Wednesday I flew down the A46,  spun into the gravelled drive (five minutes late) leapt out of my car, grabbed my sandwiches and fell into the peace and tranquility of the late 1400,s give or take a year or two! So, I found myself in a small drawing room, a baby grand piano in the bay window, a few tasteful objects carefully placed here and there and looking quietly around the room, catching my breath, there was 'silence' at last!

So dear friends, (I only have a couple of followers! :-)) the previous blog is where I found myself that sunny day.  I hope you enjoy the read and now understand more re the sense of time and place that caused me to write as I did. It was a gift from God, an appointment I felt obliged to keep not expecting Him to be in the shadows.  I hope out of the quietness of your heart, when you settle down to simply be still, you hear the lovely voice of Jesus speaking to you too.
Wherever you are He is there, it often takes someone to tell me to stop before I actually do, and see what happens! So dear friend, how about it, stop and join the hallelujah chorus in the silence!

A visit to Brockworth Court on a sunny day.

The first thing that strikes me is the silence!

 Strike seems too strong a word but taking things in contrast silence is broken with a strike! The clang of a door, I hear footsteps in the hall, I see a figure pervade my silence as someone passes the window, go away, go away! For I am struck!

Wasn't there somewhere in the Bible where 'he was struck dumb' so this is a sudden thing an invasive thing, sometimes not always pleasant. They struck the nails into His hands with fierce blows that made His face screw up in painful, unbearable grimace! This striking definitely changes what was to what is, the striking of a bell will bring you immediately from where you were to where you are and even to where you should be!

Now footsteps down the stairs, go away, go away!

Take me back to that place of awesome silence Lord, I am tired of speaking, tired of being spoken to, tired of the never ending sludge of words too quickly sliding from the mouths of people who start every sentence with 'I think' or 'in my opinion'

I hear distant conversation, go away, go away!

Strike me with silence again Lord, let me sink into its depths, like a deer thirsting for the water will slip into the cooler deeps of the running stream and stand there, soothing the body, hiding from the pursuant, resting, refreshing, let me sink to the ground at Your feet, let me smell the fragrance of Your garments, let me feel the touch of Your hand on my head for I am very weary Lord, strike me with Your presence. Meet me in the silence!

I have come to this place like Mary, amidst the noise and bustle of life, where talking never ends and distractions always crash into my life like never ending breakers on the sea shore. I have come with all my rubbish, all my cares, all my busyness, and Your silence struck me! I feel the cumbersome weight drop off like Christians burden from the story of Pilgrims Progress.

Because now my eye is on You, as the servant looks at his master and the handmaiden looks into the face of her mistress so I Look at You.

The first thing that struck me was the silence,  And in the silence Your eyes spoke and I heard you say I love you.
Your touch was like a heavy incense on my head that shouted 'I understand'.
The glory of Your presence was like the thunderous roar of angels declaring Your sovereignty  in majestic song and in the silence of this amazing moment, I bless You Lord, I break open the alabaster jar, and let the song of my heart break forth as the joyful tongue of the ready writer.