#Lockdown Pilgrimage - Candlemas

 


Candlemas Bells, Fair Maids of February, Purification Flowers, Galanthus nivalis - by whatever name  Snowdrops are a promise of spring, the hope of things to come. They match the mood of  the Church's  Candlemas celebration, in which candles are blessed and we recall Jesus' first visit to the Temple in Jerusalem. 
The little babe in arms was recognised by the elderly Simeon and Anna as something big! God's special one! The one who would bring healing and peace.  As Simeon says, " A light to lighten everybody - all nations and the glory of  God's  People, Israel."  Luke 2.21 and following.
Imagine flame from a lone candle, passing on the fire to other candles, in an ever widening pool of light, across national and cultural boundaries, from one generation to another, across the world, down through the ages, bringing light;  and even now in our own darkness bringing light and setting us aflame to bring that light to the darkness round us.

But I digress, it  was a bright early spring day when we, like Simeon and Anna, set out from our home in Coltishall to visit the House of God. It is what we do on Sundays.

We passed the Rising Sun, sunning itself in the winter sunshine, and remembered it was closed for  Lockdown. A pub with no beer! 


We saw the post office had closed for good!


Even without news of the pandemic, there's still every opportunity to be glum!  Passing St. John's we remembered that the bells are un-rung since last March!


And yes, the church is closed for public worship! One wonders what the future holds.

It is easy to be fearful and good to remember things change. Our destination was the ruined church of St. Mary, Great Hautbois, set in a sea of Snowdrops, always open and still the House of God.


An awesome place to sit and ponder -  Gray's Elergy in a Country Churchyard  country!


Hope for the future?  You bet! That Jesus - the babe of Bethlehem, that light in the darkness that the dark has never managed to snuff out  - still sets hearts ablaze. Come what may, he is the light in our darkness, our hope for all that is to come.  We might yet find the grace to pray the Nunc Dimittis with old Simeon.

 

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