Sheep may safely graze

What a beautiful day for the next part of my Lenten walk! Of course, I chose one of the most scenic parts of the parish - not only because I wanted to walk in some open countryside in the glorious weather but also because it's one of the longest continuous stretches and I needed a glorious day to do it in!

For me, this is one of the most beautiful parts of my two parishes; it feels very rural and that rubs off on a person. Folk greet you as they do in a village: open and ready to make your acquaintance.

When you're on foot, life has to slow down, take longer, become grounded in the place. In my normal, too busy life, this would be somewhere I would have to take a car because of the pressures of time - I would speed through it but not be part of it. I would miss the point; the place, the belonging, the earth-ing. Too often we are rushing into the future and barely experiencing the present - and we're missing the point and missing God, too - because we can only encounter God in the present moment; as the present is the only real time.

My walk today took me over the old railway track, down the other side of the viaduct and along Wilden Lane, up Bigbury Lane (which is steep on foot!) at the top of the lane, I turned left and walked around the small estate made up of Wiveldon Avenue, Watchtower Road and The Slad. (I wondered whether the Jehovah's Witnesses had a base in Watchtower Road but figured it was probably named for a completely different reason). Then I went back onto Wilden Top Road and headed off towards Hartlebury Road - when I got there, I ceremoniously stopped to take a photo of the parish boundary before making my way down Hartlebury Road and into Wilden Lane then back onto the old railway line to home.

 

That sounds really prosaic! It was stunning; woodland, hills and field upon field, -ok, so no sheep grazing but plenty of horses! The freshness and beauty of the countryside, interrupted only by the occasional car and the sound of a trailbike going round a course in the distance. It was so warm it could have been summer. There were tempting footpaths - and I really did want to go off down each and every one but I knew that would take me away from the residential areas that I am particularly trying to cover on this walk. Maybe another day..........

24th March is a special day for me and one that stirs a whole batch of complicated feelings inside me. It is the anniversary of the murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero, from El Salvador; a tiny country in Central America whose people have endured a brutal and oppressive history ever since the conquistadores 'discovered' the Americas. Romero is something of a hero for me. He started off as a safe bet for the post of Archbishop; Rome's man, the State's man but he had his eyes opened to the ruthless brutality of the state (who were aided by the US) and took a stand. He spoke up, he defended his people through non violent direct action and they loved him! Of course, he was a threat and it was only a matter of time before they came for him. He was shot dead while preaching at Mass in a hospital chapel this day in 1980. But it didn't stop there; the people were so courageous and rather than being subdued by his death, they were inspired to work all the harder for justice. It cost many their lives - including some who were shot at his funeral in San Salvador. Had it not been for the death of Romero, I would not have known El Salvador existed. It was the beginning of my passion for justice, peace and integrity.

El Salvador is still struggling to find real peace and justice through genuine democracy but it is much further down that road than it was and no small part of that is thanks to the example, leadership and sacrifice of Oscar Romero, as well as the countless, brave women and men he worked with. Back in the 70s and 80s the people were like sheep led out to be slaughtered and left on death mounds. Today, 31 years after the slaying of their shepherd, I pray that they will be sheep who may safely graze.

Different Perspectives

I saw some of Stourport from a different perspective on my walk today. You see, in the past I have seen the parishes of Stourport and Wilden as a mixture of rural and slightly urban. Taking photos has helped me to realise that it's not true. Friends sometimes refer to me as living 'in the countryside' and I always think of this as an urban or inner city perspective of our town. I compare our reality to that of the villages in the Teme Valley and see us as positively urban. However, whenever I take photos of the more urban parts of Stourport for this blog, I am repeatedly surprised that the shots don't look urban at all; wherever I point my camera, something of the countryside creeps into the frame!

My walk today began down the Gilgal and up Hartlebury Road then onto the Birches, Heathlands,Olympus Gardens, The Grove, Oakdene, Pinedene, Willowdene, Hazeldene, Kylemilne Way, Ferndale Close......all giving a clue of the backdrop behind this estate. I found little pathways linking the roads together which delighted me - I felt as though I'd found a secret way known only to those who live there! It all felt very suburban; very much of its era  (at least until the Heathlands which was clearly added later). It felt comfortable and reassuring. I noticed the number of garages that had been converted into extra living space and how the garages in that decade were not seriously built with accommodating a car in mind; while you could get one into the garage, I doubt you could open the doors wide enough to climb out - not unless you had a mini! These were houses built to feed a dream of suburban life for aspirational people and now they were being inhabited by folk who were adapting them to meet their 21st century aspirations.One thing that I became aware of while walking, was that I know a lot of this estate. I know it because of the number of funeral visits I have made here and I could call people clearly to mind as I wandered around their roads.

Something else happened today that gave me a new perspective; this was wandering onto the new estate off Millfield Drive. My map is too old to include this area and I was walking 'blind'. It felt like entering a labyrinth, road after road linking to cul de sac after cul de sac. Just when I would think I must be getting back to my starting point, there would be yet more roads and cul de sacs! Much of this was virgin territory for me; many of the folk who live on this estate are young - the housing is largely for families and there are apartments and starter homes alongside some seriously large homes. I may see these folks at school events or around the town but the kinds of life issues that take me visiting across the Hartlebury Road don't occur so often here. People wash their cars here on Saturday afternoons - mine sings 'Happy Birthday' when I remember to get it cleaned!

I stopped to worry about a cat who was mewing its way along a path until a woman with a small child explained he was theirs and always followed them. He called incessantly - sometimes seeming to say 'wait for me' and other times 'but don't you want to stop and sniff here?!' The same woman was clearly perplexed to see me wandering back out of a cul de sac and somewhat j walking around the roads. I didn't explain; I'd never met her before and I didn't want to alarm her, after all!

 I met some dogs and that helps when you want to smile or say hello to human strangers - dogs don't stand on ceremony! Two little dogs on those extendable leads rushed out to greet me, their human reassured me they were friendly as they washed my hands and sniffed my trousers. 'Lovely day, isn't it?' I agreed. 


Fresh, spring air and glorious bright sunshine colouring my perspective anew.

Interconnectedness

Interconnectedness.
I'm not actually sure that's a real word and that I shouldn't have put a hyphen. I'm usually such a grammar pedant but I have no inclination to go and check it in the dictionary - not after my lovely walk! It seems unimportant. That's walking for you!

Today's walk took me up Minster Road, round Forge Court, back onto Minster Road and down Longboat Lane, Old Station Court, Pullman Lane, Prospect Road, Bullus Road,, Saxilby Place, Farm Road, East Road, North Road, Manor Road, St John's Road, Manor Close then back over the canal and up through the Churchyard to home.

Those of you who know that part of Stourport well will probably have worked out why I've chosen the title for this blog entry. If you're on foot, there is absolutely no need to return to Minster Road to access all of these roads, once you've gone down Longboat Lane. If you're on foot, you can avoid the busy traffic and the to-ing and fro-ing down the roads because you just slip through lanes between the roads.  It makes for a sort of secret retreat from the world; it gives the area a sort of independence and cohesion. Well, that's how it felt as I walked today.

I'm not great on North, South, East and West unless I'm inside a church building. Today, I got a bit of deja vue as I had to repeat myself around North and East roads a little, having lost my bearings, I did some of it twice! I did part of Manor Road and St John's Road twice, too; this was because my map led me to believe I could find a through road that doesn't appear to be there! The similarity to other areas of life wasn't lost on me; sometimes we need to do things at least twice to work them out. There was a foretaste of things to come, too; in order to get to new places, I will have to cover old ground again first. It's inevitable. It's that way in other areas of life, too.

I was reminded of the interconnectedness again on my way home; meeting familiar faces on the canal bank and explaining what I was doing. Yes, I'm walking. Yes, I'm getting to see my two parishes from a different perspective and to explore them properly as opposed to turning up to one house in a car but I'm also connecting with the places where the people live, meet, walk. These three women were returning from a lunch together and there on the canalbank, we re-connected in time and a particular place apparently as a random event. We are all interconnected - not just those streets off Minster Road; not just the women on the canal bank or the church folk I met on Manor Road. Not just the tired fisherman carrying his kit home, the dog walking his man (and yes I mean it that way round!), the cyclists - not just the people we see and speak to but all of us.

Japan, Lybia, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Afghanistan............

The swans are building their nest on the canal bank. I had food on my table this lunchtime. I don't live in fear of war or oppression. I am blessed by fortune of birth and I am thankful. In other places, creation is groaning, wailing, suffering, dying and so much of it is human-made. So when I'm tempted to be a bit softly, softly on this whole 'penitential Lent thing' the news reminds me of why it is necessary.

Sad day!

I was going to do another walk this morning but my dear old hen Boudica died in the night and I just couldn't face it. I've had her over 10 years and I'm going to miss her!! She had a proud, strong, brave personality; she was 'leader of the pack' and thought nothing of standing up for herself and her fellow hens. The fact that she trusted me was a huge privilege. Here she is - one of my friends said she thought she looked like an opera singer in a Wagnerian tragedy! I will remember her thoughtful gaze, head tilted to one side, standing in front of me and waiting to see what I might do next.......whether I might just have some grapes or melon seeds....and following me into the pen each evening to be shut safely in before darkness fell.

The first walk!

Well I set off this afternoon for the first walk in my Lenten challenge! Billowing clouds and occasional gusts of wind but no rain, thankfully. Getting soaked this early on would have deflated my spirit somewhat!

Spring was evident everywhere; along the canal bank, in people's gardens and even the roundabout at the junction of Worcester Road and Hartlebury Road!

I saw old buildings and new ones; well manicured gardens and tip sites. Particularly striking was a small front garden immacutely prepared for sowing - I could only guess; veg or flowers? I thought about the work still needed on my veg plot and felt inspired.

A wheelie bin with a picture of a dog and a caption 'I love dogs', someone laying paving stones in a back garden, planters with pansies - all these things hinting at the people inside the homes. Their lives, their aspirations, their talents. So many lives represented by so many homes!

Two faces of Stourport; the busy, industrial, traffic fuelled town and the quiet, corners with rural views. Side by side, nature and industrialisation as has been the case since the Georgians brought the canal to Mitton. A plaque on one house, presented by the Civic Society, a reminder of the town's heritage.

Down the canal bank, past The Bird in Hand, along Holly Road, up Summerfield Road, Mill Road, Orchard Close, Mill Lane, Mill Close, further along Mill Road, Hartlebury Road, (I was not going to be put off by minor inconveniences like closed footpaths!) The Willows and Walnut Grove, into Baldwin Road and back into Holly Road, returning once more to the canalside and the sight of a man with a small child feeding the ducks. "They'll be laying soon, it looks like" he said. Spring in the air. In spite of all the traffic, the building, the industry, the world goes on turning through the seasons - beautiful, lively, hopeful. Nature resistant and breaking in through every crevice; cultivated and spontaneous.

We are 'nature', too; our inner beauty breaks through the layers of conditioning, through the busy-ness and the peer pressure. Spring comes to our hearts after a long, dark winter!