I enjoy gardens. The scent of green grass beneath feet, the abruptness of bursting shrubs as insects flit and birds gather, children play; being surprised by shape, colour, space; the wonder of life and enjoyment of creation.

In making gardens; I don’t mind a bit of early planning and digging and shifting - the pleasure of hard work, muscles aching, sweat creation. But I can’t be bothered with the fiddly stuff, picking weeds, trimming borders, fussing over the minutia of exactly which plant pot should be where. I’d rather scatter seed than individually plant each one, I’ll happily leave such labour for someone else but enjoy the end product.

I love to feel rainfall soaking into the ground, making love, running across footpaths, conceiving streams, refreshing plant-life, giving birth. I love the tingle of electricity in the air, the crack and the boom, warm rain cascading in torrents. Yet I can feel the sadness of a dull drizzly, keep-in, stay warm day - there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

I love to feel the sun warming the earth, steam rising to be carried on the breeze, bare feet on hot grass, bird song and insect hum, warmth against pale skin. The freshness of morning, the glow of lazy evening. Yet when the sun burns hot in the day,  I hide in the shade and wish for rain.

I love to watch a river flow towards the sea. It is the residue of rainfall, the run away, the soaked earth’s surplus. Giving life to unseen plants and creatures below it’s flowing surface. I guess some will be snared to appear from my tap, whilst much will replenish the sea before being captured by the sun and returned as rainfall - nothing wasted, nothing unneeded, ever flowing cycle of creation and re-creation means I can enjoy this garden on a cool damp April day.

Tune Charterhouse RS 33

Open the word to beauty and all wonder. 
Open our hearts to story broken, bruised. 
Open the world of hope and joyful welcome. 
Open our wires to conversations new. 

Look forward, hear of faith's long re-adventure. 
Look out to see the word explored to life. 
Look in upon the passion of a dreamer,
Look onward, glimpse a world where freedom flows. 

Now pen the fear of chaos and of anger. 
Now pen the accents of lament, despair. 
And shout the whisper of God's re-creation
And speak the word of healing and repair. 

Inspire our lives to loving word in action. 
Inspire our song, to sing of grace-filled faith
And send us now to witness to God's glory,
Reformed, reforming people come alive.

Craig Muir, Windermere, October 2010

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This Christmas I shall be concentrating on Matthew's nativity and therefore Joseph's tale of an Angelic announcement. Unable to find a Christmas Carol that looked at things from Joseph's perspective I set out to write one which expressed something of what it is to be an adopted father and therfore caring for someone elses child. I found myself working in a tricky metre - but that just adds to the challenge!

What follows is as ever a work in progress and your comments/suggested revisions will be appreciated

Metre 7677

Tune Peur Nobis RS 169

Sing a song of Joseph’s fear

Braving looks disgraceful

Hear the news that “God’s with us”

and make a place of welcome

Sing a verse of Joseph’s trust,

Taking in the grace-child

Catch the rumour “God’s with us”,

Adopted by all children

Ring a bell of Angels’ song

Pealing praise and laughter

Sing out clearly “God’s with us”

and rend the place asunder.   (with appropriate nod to Percy Dearmer)

Sing a hymn of Joseph’s pride

Fearing’s been disabled.

Tell our story “God’s with us”

where fatherhood is chosen.

Sing an air of Joseph’s joy

Caroling so graceful.

Gently cradled God with us

Extend the place of welcome

Craig Muir 2010

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.