Category Archives: Contemplative

Advent, Contemplative

Anticipating Advent – Feast of Christ the King

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27th November 2024, Horsham
Feast of Christ the King

Last Sunday, many parts of the western Church celebrated the Feast of Christ the King. This may sound like an ancient festival, but actually it was initiated in 1925 by Pope Pius XI. In 1969 it was moved by a few weeks from its’ original date in October and is now celebrated between 20th and 26th November, placing it immediately before the start of Advent.

‘Feast Days’ don’t get high priority in my calendar, but having been reminded of its existence, it seems to me that there is something rather special about this one. The 1920’s were a time when people were struggling. Europe was falteringly recovering from the misery of World War. Secularism and nationalism were on the rise. The introduction of the Feast of Christ the King was an attempt by the Catholic Church to respond to these cultural developments by restoring the sovereignty of Christ in a troubled world. As followers of Jesus, living in a troubled world where secularism and nationalism are on the rise, that should catch our attention.

Looking back…

Let’s face it, this hasn’t been a great year. Violent conflicts in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere. Appalling violence in Nigeria, Yemen and so many other places. Violent and damaging weather patterns bringing hurricanes, floods and drought. Rapidly changing global political landscape, including a surge in right wing nationalism. It’s easy to look back with a sense of despair and disappointment.

The follower of Jesus is called to be God’s light in a this troubled world (Matthew 5:14-16), Christ belongs in the centre of my world, the centre of my life. Christ is the King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15). We are his ambassadors, (2 Corinthians 5:20 )and he speaks through us. This celebration leads us to reflect on the fact that in the trials of the last 12 months, Christ has not been absent from the world. Though we don’t always see it, he, Christ the King , has always been there, in the centre of all this, filled with compassion and ready to pour out his love in the midst of the challenges and suffering. The Feast of Christ the King reminds us of that.

Looking Forwards

In a few days, the celebration of Advent begins. A wonderful reminder of the coming of  Christ. The child, Immanuel (which means God with Us) (Matthew 1:23). A child, born into a desperately violent and challenging world.

Of course this year will bring it’s own uncertainties, challenges and trials. But with Christ at the centre of our lives, we can look forward in anticipation of the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, as we step into this new season with hearts filled with faith, peace, joy and love.

The end piece..

The Feast of Christ the King. The sovereignty of Christ, Messiah, even in the desperate struggles in the year which has passed.

Advent. A message of hope, peace, joy and love. The sovereignty of Christ, Messiah, even in the face of desperate struggles and challenges of the year to come.

Together, a reminder of the eternal presence of God at the heart of his creation. Yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

Immanuel. God with us.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

 

 

Contemplative

Halloween – Samhain

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31st October 2024: Horsham

It’s that time of year again. Many of my Christian friends are grumbling. It’s Halloween.

There are probably one or two reasons for Christian’s to be uncomfortable about the way people celebrate Halloween – although many of my Christian friends struggle to articulate them. They make vague references to evil. Spiritual darkness. Meddling in the dark arts. I’m sure that there is a grain of truth here, but when we look at ‘mainstream’ Halloween practices in the UK, are things really that bad?

I have a ‘pagan’ friend (that’s how he identifies) who loves Halloween, although he prefers to call it Samhain (pronounced Sow-in as he reminds me). He loves to accuse the Church of hijacking this ancient Celtic festival.  For him, Halloween encourages a step back to our roots. It connects us to something which was celebrated in antiquity. It reminds him of the ‘old ways’ before Christian’s came along and imposed change on everyone and everything!

Again, there’s probably a grain of truth there somewhere. Be in no doubt, there is evidence to suggest that Samhain was a thing and was practised in many forms across Britain long before Christianity was introduced here. The Catholic festival of ‘All Hallows Day’ or ‘Allhallowtide’ from which the word ‘Halloween’ is derived, seems to have appeared on the scene in 7th Century Rome, and was celebrated on 13th May. It seems that in the 8th Century it was extended across the Catholic world (which would have included Britain) and the date was moved to 1st November. I’ve heard several theories, but perhaps not surprisingly, the reason for this change is uncertain and lost in antiquity. However,  it clearly did bring Allhallowtide into a space which had, for generations, been filled by the festival of Samhain. I haven’t actually seen any reliable evidence to suggest that the purpose of the change was to disrupt Samhain, but I have no doubt that it was used with enthusiasm across the country for exactly that!

I’m far from convinced that modern Halloween is, for most people, a return to ancient tradition. Pumpkins and trick or treat (as practised today) are recent innovations which owe more to American commercialism and the film industry than anything else. It seems to me that modern interpretations of Samhain culture and practices, on the other hand, owe more to nineteenth century romanticism and fantasy than they do to reliable historical sources.

So, let’s just take a breath. Small children in fancy dress. Decorated homes. Spooky fancy dress parties. Small children ‘trick or treating’. Gnarled and warty squashes or carved pumpkins on doorsteps and windowsills.  Ok, I abhor the use of single use plastics and the wasteful cultivation of millions of pumpkins to be casually discarded in a world where people are starving, but the pumpkin face in my coffee did make me smile (thank you #CostaHorsham), and none of these things seem to me to be inherently evil.

I’m not speaking up for Halloween, it seems to me that it is part of our culture and I wonder why we don’t embrace it more readily. This is, after all, the world into which we, as Christians, believe we have been called.

Halloween. Samhain. These festivals point towards the stuff of life.  Life. Death. Mortality. The supernatural. These things are part of life. People have questions about them. Surely this is fertile ground for the evangelical. Rather than looking as if we just want to stop people having a bit of fun, perhaps we should be looking for ways to help people to engage with these issues. We have a perspective to share, and we struggle to find the opportunity to share it. Maybe we should be a bit more grateful for a season which just might be the conversation starter we’ve been waiting for.

Just a thought.

Information links you might find helpful

Council for British Archaeology website

Halloween and Samhain  on the BBC website

History.com review of Samhain is here

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

Small Steps can be Life Changing. James 4:8

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Horsham: 21st August 2024

In your relationship with Jesus, small steps can be life changing.

When we think about changes in our life which might bring us closer to Jesus, we tend to think big.  Paul, after all, tells us to be ‘transformed’ (Romans 12:2), and that word suggests significant change. It is, says Paul, the transformation of your mind  which enables you to understand God’s will for you. The problem is that giant steps are serious and daunting. We think of people giving up their job and making huge personal sacrifices. Of course it’s awesome when people do that. I have been inspired by so many people who have made giant steps of faith!

I’m reminded that transformation is a process. It takes time. Children don’t learn to walk by taking giant steps. I’m reminded of the Chinese proverb that says every journey starts with one step. The most important steps we take in our relationship with God are most often the small ones. There’s always another step you can take.

The smallest changes you make to your lifestyle or behaviour may pass unnoticed by others, yet still be profoundly significant for you.

Every step closer to Jesus is important.
Every step closer to Jesus is transformational.
The smallest step closer to Jesus is a step on the path of transformation.
Small steps can be life changing.

James 4:8  ‘Come near to God and he will come near to you.’

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

You are a work in progress (Psalm 143:10)

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I’ve had a really busy few days. So busy that the contemplative evangelical side of my life has been squeezed to the sidelines. Let me be honest, there have been days when it hasn’t really happened. I’ve been tired. If I sit still for too long, I will fall asleep.

This morning I went to the opticians for my regular eye test. We started with some paperwork and conversation, and then I was introduced to the young lady who would do my eyesight test. She had a great manner. She seemed knowledgeable. She was thorough. The test took slightly longer than I had expected but hey – no problem.

At the end of the test she explained her results. My eyesight had slightly deteriorated, so my prescription had changed, but hey – no problem.

Then she said, ‘I just need to get my supervisor to check my findings.’ It was only then that I realised she was in training. She had dealt with me really well. I told her so. I wanted to encourage her. The supervisor came into the room and checked a couple of details with me and made some minor changes to my notes.

A little later, I went into one of my local coffee shops where I was welcomed by a lady wearing a tee shirt which was emblazoned with the words ‘trainee barista’. She gave great eye contact and she was appropriately friendly. There was a lady at her shoulder who was obviously training her, guiding her through the till and helping her make my drink. She produced a very good skinny latte (although there was no fancy shape in the milk foam). She was a little slow, but hey – no problem.

Both the optician and the barista were doing well. They both have stuff to learn. The optician had done a pretty good job, although I think that the supervisor noticed one or two areas which needed clarification. The barista did a good job, but in a few days, she’ll be presenting my caffe latte with a fern leaf motif in the milky foam. They both have stuff to learn.

And me. The contemplative evangelical who hasn’t been very contemplative at all for several days. As I sit here drinking my coffee I’ve been asking God what he was showing me through these two encounters. I pray quietly in my corner, enjoying the sounds of conversation and the tip-tapping of keyboards all around me. I am trying, after all, to get back to being a contemplative evangelical in a busy and fast moving world.

And that’s it. In that moment of quiet God reminded me of something really important, and really encouraging.

I sense a gentle voice pointing out one or two things which need to change so that I can follow Him better. I sense a gentle voice at my shoulder saying you’re doing ok, but remember to let me lead. You can’t do this on your own. We should be doing this together. Like the optician and the barista, you’re still learning. And by the way, you always will be.

I think he’s saying “I know the things you have done well and the things you should have done better. I know that you haven’t kept to your prayer schedule recently. I know that your time with me has been under pressure.” I sense that he is saying ‘Hey – no problem.’

Let’s move on.

‘Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.’ Psalm 143:10 (NRSV)

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

God looks at your heart: 1 Samuel 16:1-13

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Horsham: 12th June 2024

Some years ago, a Church based children’s worker called Trevor was leading some session at the Conference Centre where I was working. He was encouraging the young people to explore their relationship with God. He wanted them to realise that God knew them, and valued them as His people. He wanted them to understand that their age was no barrier to their faith. God knows and loves them. He sees their heart. Too often, we overlook the gifts and the faith of children. Too often we don’t notice, and therefore don’t celebrate His Holy Spirit working through a child.

Trevor led the group through the story of Samuel, at the point when he is sent by God to visit Jesse. God had told Samuel that he was to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new King of Israel. The first son, Eliab, is a fine, strong young man.  “Surely,” says Samuel, “his anointed is now before the Lord.” God says no. He also rejects all of the sons who follow. Surely, says Samuel, there must be another? Young David is not even presented to Samuel. He is assumed to be too young. Too insignificant. Whilst the brothers are part of the feast, David is out in the fields. He’s working. He’s looking after the sheep.

‘ “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him, for this is the one.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward.’

1 Samuel 16:11-13

The key point is this. We look at each other and we make judgments about each other. Our judgments are made on the basis of superficial impressions. We notice things like people’s anxiety, their behaviour, their attitude, their dress style, even their age, and we sub consciously make judgments about them. The message is that God is different. God looks past the visible exterior of our appearance, our gender, our skin colour, our age.

‘The Lord does not see as men see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’

1 Samuel 16:7

In order to make the point to the young people, Trevor and his team wrote out a short sentence on lots of pieces of paper and gave a copy to each child. At the end of the session, the children put their copy of the note in their Bible and went home.

The following morning, I was having a bad day. I felt that God was moving me on from my role as Director of the Christian charity where I had worked for nine years. I wasn’t ready or able to retire. Yet I couldn’t see the next step. I felt useless. I felt discouraged. I felt old.

I walked into the conference room in which the teaching had taken place. There on the floor was a folded piece of paper. I picked it up and read the note which had been intended for one of the children.

‘God looks at your heart, not your age.’

Powerful words. Words intended for a child. I was nearly 60. They were every bit as powerful to me.

Be encouraged.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

 

 

Contemplative

Pentecost: Acts 2:1-13 (Speak your own Language)

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The Holy Spirit Comes at Pentecost

2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,[b] 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

Acts 2: 1-13 (NIV)

Horsham: 18th March 2024

Tomorrow is the day in the Church calendar when we celebrate Pentecost. For the Jews in first century Palestine, Pentecost was a festival which celebrated the time when the Law was given to Moses. (You can read the story on Exodus 19 and 20). It also celebrated the start of the new harvest. To us, Pentecost is the time when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. We remember the day when 3000 people committed to become followers of Jesus (Acts 2:41). We remember the day when a new harvest began, a harvest for the Kingdom of God which continues to this day.

2000 years ago, the festival of Pentecost would have attracted thousands of pilgrims from across the known world, and was taking place in Jerusalem about ten days after the Ascension of Jesus. The Disciples were all together in Jerusalem, in obedience to the last instruction of Jesus.

 Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 1:4-5)

When Jesus gave them that instruction, the disciples can have had very little idea of what to expect. When something did happen, it was one of the most powerful and dramatic events of Christian history.

Speaking about the Ascension, William Barclay writes ‘The Ascension must always remain a mystery, for it attempts to put into words and describe something that is beyond description.’ (i) The same, I think applies to the release of the Holy Spirit on that morning in Jerusalem. Something like a powerful wind… Something like tongues of fire… It’s one of a series of events of Scripture which defies description.

I’m not going to retell the story here – you can read it for yourself – but there is a point I want to make.

After their encounter with the Holy Spirit, this small bunch of Galileans, most of whom were not very well educated, came out full of excitement onto the bustling streets. People from far flung countries, from north, south east and west, from places we would now call Syria, Egypt, Crete and Iran, heard these men speaking about the wonders of God in their own languages. These people are all Jews or God fearing people – Gentiles who had converted to Judaism. To some extent or other, all these people would have all been able to speak Aramaic, the common language of Judaism at that time, but the fact of hearing the gospel message in their own language stopped them in their tracks. No surprise that to many of the locals, who only spoke Aramaic, these foreign languages sounds so strange that they might assume the disciples to be drunk.

I recently spent some time with the leaders of a local Church. They sense that they have become rather out of touch with their local community, but have little appetite for change. It made me reflect on the fact that some of our our Churches use practices, hymns and worship styles which would have been familiar to our Victorian forebears. Not so surprising that they are inaccessible to people around us.

The explosion of the Church started with the Holy Spirit enabling the followers of Jesus to speak to people in a language they would understand. It occurs to me that if we sought the enablement of the Holy Spirit to enable us to talk about the wonders of God using the same language as the people around us, we might find ourselves witnessing a wonderful and eternal harvest for Jesus.

Don’t be waiting for the sound of rushing wind and the visible tongues of fire. If you are a follower of Jesus, you already have the Holy Spirit within you (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19). Whatever your background. Whatever your culture. Speak about Jesus using the language people around you will understand. Speak about what Jesus has done for you in your own language.

Pentecost. The Holy Spirit. Now and forever. Immanuel – God with us.

Just a thought.

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

Contemplative

The Ascension of Jesus: Luke 24: 50-53

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The Ascension of Jesus

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

Luke 24:50-53, NIV

Horsham, 9th May 2024

You probably didn’t hear this on the news today or pick it up on social media, but today is Ascension Day.

When I was a child, my entire primary school were marched down the road to the village Church for the Ascension Day service. That almost certainly wouldn’t happen today.  Whilst it’s a really important date in the Christian calendar, I’m kind of disappointed that relatively few Christian Churches will be celebrating it today.

So, what is Ascension Day and why is it important to me? Let’s start with a bit of important context.

Good Friday

Jesus was crucified a Friday morning just before the start of the Passover festival in Jerusalem. His death was hugely dramatic, and restored the relationship between mankind and God. Because of his death on the cross, Jesus offers salvation to eternal life for those who believe in Him as the Son of God (John 3:16). In spite of the absolute horror of execution by crucifixion, Christ’s death opens the opportunity of a right relationship with God (which is a good thing) so we call that day ‘Good Friday’. You can read the story of His death in Luke 23: 26-49.

Easter Day

Good Friday, then, commemorates the day of Christ’s death. We regards the Friday as the first day of his death. The Saturday, the second day, was regarded as the Sabbath. Jesus’ friends could not visit his tomb to anoint the body on the Sabbath, so they went there at dawn on the Sunday, the third day. You may remember the story, that when they arrived, the large stone which had covered the entrance to his tomb had been rolled away and the body was gone. You can read the events of that extraordinary day in  Luke 24. The eyewitness accounts speak of the risen Jesus.  Jesus rose from the dead on the third day – the Sunday – which we celebrate as Easter Day.

‘The disciples didn’t need to see Him rise, because they saw Him risen.’ (i)

Resurrection

The story of the Gospels is that the death of Jesus was not the end. The risen Jesus is seen by his disciples repeatedly after his death over a period of 40 days. We call this the period of his resurrection. Resurrection means ‘raised from the dead’. He appears to his friends and disciples. This isn’t a vague ghostly apparition. Jesus talks to them. He allows them to touch him and even eats with them. He speaks to them in ones and twos, and sometimes in much larger groups (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Ascension

40 days after his resurrection he leads them out to a hilly area just outside Jerusalem, above a village called Bethany. Jesus, we read, lifted his hands in blessing over his disciples, and as he does so, he is lifted up towards the sky. I have no idea how that worked – but he ‘ascended’ in front of them, until a cloud hid him from their sight. Because he ascended, this is commemorated as ‘Ascension Day‘ 40 days after Easter Day. That’s today.

‘The Ascension must always remain a mystery, for it attempts to put into words and describe something which is beyond description.’ (ii)

Why does it matter?

This is one of the most extraordinary moments of the account of Jesus. Theologian and preacher Charles Spurgeon describes the highlight dramatic events of Christ’s birth, death, resurrection and ascension as being like four rungs of a ladder, with the foot on earth and the top in heaven (iii).

So here are three reasons why  Ascension Day is important to me as a follower of Jesus.

  1. It marks the end of the ‘resurrection’ phase of Christ’s ministry in the most dramatic and extraordinary way;
  2. It is a moment of blessing, assurance and preparation for the next phase in the establishment and development of the Church at Pentecost; and,
  3. It is a visible point of transition from the experience of Christ on earth to the visible certainty of Christ in heaven.
(You can also read an account of the Ascension in Acts 1: 1-1.)

So there we are. Ascension Day and why it’s important to me!

Happy Ascension Day!

Richard Jackson, West Sussex: LifePictureUK

(i) John Wesley, Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles
(ii) Wm Barclay, Daily Study Bible, Acts, p.353
(iii) Spurgeon, ‘Commentary and Sermons on Acts’ Kindle Edition, ref 25673

Contemplative

Do not worry about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34)

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In a few weeks time, I will be stepping down from my role as the Coordinator for Horsham Churches Together. I’ve done this job for just a couple of years. There have been challenges, but I’ve met and worked with some wonderful people and it’s been an incredible privilege to serve local Churches and Christian leaders in this way.

Moving on undoubtedly brings me closer to retirement. That feels like a big thing for me. I don’t feel ready to retire, and I have very mixed feelings about stepping down, but in my heart, I know it is the right thing for me to do.

Last night, I went to a worship and prayer service which brings together people from many of the 31 Horsham congregations.

As I walked to the meeting I was reflecting on my role with and my small contribution to the life of Horsham Churches Together over the last couple of years. Those mixed feelings rose again in my mind. Who is going to take over? What will it look like without me? How’s it going to work?

Then, as I walked up North Street, past the Old Council Offices, God spoke. ‘This story,’ He said, ‘is about me, not about you.’ There was a gentleness to these words, yet a profound directness. Stop worrying about the next stage of the story for HCT. It seemed to say, the future of HCT is part of God’s story. Not mine.

Later, at the service, I found myself praying on my own to one side of the auditorium. I was prayerfully reflecting on my own career – my own story. I have done many jobs – paid and voluntary. If a book were written about my life, I thought, each of them would be a chapter in my story. I have so often been deeply conscious of His presence at so many important points in my life. The start, and the closure, of each chapter has invariably involved a sense of His direction and leading. So, I found myself prayerfully asking God what was next for me. In an instant, in my mind, was the phrase ‘How much better will it be if you let me write the next chapter.’

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV)

“6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” Philippians 4:6-7 (NRSV)

Contemplative

Beatitudes: Dr Michael Frost

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Dr Mike Frost is the founding Director of the Tinsley Institute, a mission study centre located at Morling College in Sydney, Australia.

This is quoted from: www.nomadpodcast.co.uk/michael-frost-deconstructing-the-christian-narrative-of-power-n302/

‘I don’t read these as conditions – if you do these things you will be blessed, but as proclamations of the upside down kingdom

  • God is for those who are down and out, for the freaks, the weirdos, the awkward, the suffering, the irreligious and the profane;
  • God is for those who are deep in grief, whose pain makes them unable to participate fully in the strategies of a successful modern life;
  • God is for those who do not use power and strength over others in order to make their way in the world;
  • God is for those who long for things to be put right and for the unjust systems of the world to be torn down
  • God is for those who show mercy and forgiveness to one another, rather than seeking revenge for the ways in which they have been wronged
  • God is for those who can see that the external markers of religiously approved behaviour don’t mean much after all;
  • God is for those who resist  ways of violence and oppression in the world, and instead seek to become agents of peace and reconciliation between those who do not yet understand or love one another
  • And God is for those who, because they seek to live in this kind of reality, encounter the impression, exclusion and disdain of those with power, wealth and status.’

Contemplative

Look for something beautiful

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Each day, look for something beautiful. Take time to notice. Take time to breathe.

‘We do not want merely to see beauty… we want something else which can hardly be put into words- to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.’

CS Lewis, ‘The Weight of Glory’, p.42, Harper Collins