Where have all the swallows gone?

Last week saw the last sightings of the herald of spring, the swallow.
No doubt we are all familiar with the saying "One swallow does not make a summer". With the summer we have just said goodbye to we may well ask,"We had the swallows - where was the summer?"

Now they are gone, and with them the memories of the summer that never really arrived.

Until not all that long ago, people believed that when the swallows disappeared, they had flown to the bottom of the ponds and lakes they had previously flown over. This no doubt was due to the fact that they were often observed flying over water catching insects, and when they were longer seen then it was assumed that they were spending the winter in the mud at the bottom of the lake.

It was only when people started trapping birds and ringing them as part of scientific study that they discovered that they were being re trapped as far away as Africa at a time of year when they should have been at the bottom of the pond!

It is a source of amazement to me that a small bird only weighing some 10 grams can fly many thousands of miles, over ocean, mountains and the mighty Sahara desert all the way to South Africa!
Further more, not only has that small bird made this monumental journey, but if it was one of this years chicks, it did it without it's parents help, and without any prior training!
Yes, this little bird navigated it's way 6,000 miles with only the information stored in it's minute brain.
Not only does it make this journey, but almost as soon as it reaches Cape Town it turns around and slowly begins it's journey back north again.

Cape Town I guess is quite a big target, but without the benefit of Satnav or maps would we succeed to make such a journey?

If you think this is pretty incredible, then think on. This little avian wonder will also navigate it's way all the way back to the barn or eave that it was hatched in and continue the cycle.
Given that the oldest swallow known lived to 16 years of age, and it is a little under 12,000 miles to Cape Town and back, that swallow flew just under 200,000 miles in it's lifetime!

Now if you want to believe that all this was possible, because over a period of millions of years, many millions of swallows failed to make the journey. Then believe that the day finally arrived when one finally did make it, and after that, the selection of the fittest, cleverest, and luckiest, found their way to South Africa, then told all their friends what a great place this is to hang out for the winter, then that is your privilege and right.

As for me I just marvel at, and worship the awesome creator God who made this creature, and all the millions of other species on this amazing planet. I marvel because as the Bible says "He maketh all things well".

That's the thing about creation. We can study it and endeavour to come up with all the answers that explain how all this happened without the help of a god.
Or we can say along with the hymn writer in the hymn How Great Thou Art

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the works Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Yes the swallow an amazing bird, but the one who made it is even more amazing, why don't you take the time and trouble to find this out for yourself!

Wonderful Wedding Day

We have just had the most amazing day on Saturday at our youngest daughters wedding blessing.

The whole event took place in the picturesque garden of the Auberge, on what was the hottest day of the year. No one could have asked for a more precious day.

Below is a poem that I wrote for the occasion, and had the privilege to read it at the ceremony.

The Clematis and The Oak

The Gardner stood with his hand outstretched, and in it held a seed
A closer look revealed to me it wasn’t any weed
For in his grasp I clearly saw an acorn small and round
I wondered for a moment the reason why he found -
The need to have this item so common, so well known
But he said to me, you wait and see, until it’s fully grown

Into the ground the acorn went, t’was tended with such care
Yet what seemed to me like endless months the soil remained so bare
But then one day I saw a shoot emerge above the soil
The Gardner too had noticed it, but never ceased to toil
He weeded, feeded, kept an eye on what was now an oak
The ground around was kept so clean, this seedling mustn’t choke

And then he stretched his hand again; I leant forward so I could see
The tiny seed inside his grasp was as small as small could be
He told me this was a special seed that needed extra care
It couldn’t go in open ground that now was cold and bare
It went inside the glasshouse where conditions were just right
The Gardner gave it water, and gave it heat and light

It too began to germinate into a plant so fair
Eventually it too was placed outside in the fresh air
The years went by unnoticed, the oak and plant did well
The tree grew tall and handsome, the clematis, a beautiful smell
But something happened gradually, that no one seemed to see
The plant and tree grew bit by bit until it came to be
The plant reached out and grasped the oak and both grew up together
They soon became inseparable, that no matter what the weather –
The oak gave to the plant support and strength and protective cover
The plant brought scent and beauty as they entwined each other

I met the Gardner recently; we spoke of this and that
It didn’t take so very long before we began to chat –
About the tree before us, and the beauty of the shrub
I pointed out those two were one, and what an awful job –
That we would have to separate the two now joined together
He said that wasn’t in the plan, and had I thought that whether –
When he had planted both those seeds he had upon his mind
That if he grew them close enough together they would bind



You see we meet today together not because of chance
It’s not a coincidence that tonight Kate and Wynter will dance -
Together as husband and wife, that two become as one
The Gardner planned it years ago, today it has been done
God brought you both together, a woman and a man
We are not here by accident; it’s all part of His plan
Wynter be a strong oak tree, a support for our dear Kate
And Kate be beautiful and cling to him, you are his one soul mate

Marriage brings so many strengths; there are challenges with it too
But as you start this step together there’s one thing you must do
And that is like our story of the oak tree and the flower
If you hold each other tightly you will have such power
Let God who brought you both together, who tended plants and earth –
Give you both a marriage that you agree is worth –
More than any money, than any life apart
I urge you both that every day you give your life, your heart –
To one another, may you be ever true
Start and end each day together, with the words “I love you”.

Time flies by doesn't it!

It has been ages since I have posted on my blog.
I haven't been sitting idly twiddling my thumbs, watching the paint dry, or wasting time.
Its just that time passes so quickly, and before you know it a couple of months have passed.

My apologies to those who have clicked on the link to check if anything new has appeared on Ferby's Frolics, and been constantly disappointed.

This is the growing season and there seems to be a hundred and one things to do in the garden.
We have been really delighted to redo some flower beds that have grown tired and past their best.
New edging has been put around some of the lawn and all in all it has been a satisfying spring.
Now summer has finally arrived, thoughts turn to spending time on the beach.
This was something we spent doing this last weekend.



This was the view that I took while laying down relaxed and de-stressed on Saturday.
But was it really a year ago already that we were doing this?
It is really sobering to see life flashing past so quickly.

My mother who was 84 last month and currently on holiday in Spain, often quotes the lines: -
"Life at best is very brief, like the falling of a leaf".

What have I done since last year that really matters? That's a question that can be easily asked but not so easily answered.

I could say that yes, I've led a weekly house group.
I took my first evening class ever on Birdwatching.
I took part in our large church production "Road to Bethlehem".
I have done a few preaching slots.
Taken the odd family service.

The list could go on and appear quite impressive when put alongside earning a living in a very demanding job, being a husband and and a father.

But what have I done in the last year that will be of eternal value?
That's not such an easy question to answer.
I endeavour to live my life with the lines of an old song as my inspiration.

"I want to serve the purpose of God in my generation.
I want to serve the purpose of God while I am alive
I want to give my life to something that will last forever
Oh I delight, I delight to do Your will."

I really wouldn't like to leave this world without making a difference of some sort.

The Bible speaks of redeeming the time. I guess this is the earliest reference to "Time Management".
I must admit to liking to packing in as much as I can into a day off, or a weekend. It is satisfying to look back and think, didn't we do a lot.

Yet looking at the story of Mary and Martha it wasn't the one who was rushing around doing loads that got the Lord's commendation. It was Mary who simply sat at Jesus feet that "had chosen the better part".
So I think there will always be this tension between redeeming the time, and resting at His feet.
Yet I think that the more time we spend at His feet the more effective will be our doing when we know what we should be doing, instead of doing what we think we should.

I'd Pick More Daises

For about ten years I had a copy of the poem you will find below, pinned up on my office wall.
I found it following my breakdown and my difficult return to work.
There were days that I didn't know how I would get through.

There were days that were a minute by minute decision to carry on.

As I read this poem it really helped me put my life in perspective, it helped me see the bigger picture. It stops me taking myself too seriously

It was written by an anonymous 89 year old woman.

If I had my life to live over,
I would dare to make more mistakes next time.
I would relax, limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously and take more chances.
I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets.
I would, perhaps, have more actual troubles but I would have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I am one of those people who live sanely, sensibly, prudently; hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I have had my moments!
And if I had to do it over again, I would have more of them
Maybe I would have nothing else?
Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day.
I have been one of those people who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute.

If I had it to do it over, I would travel lighter on the next trip.
I would start going barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
I wouldn't make such good grades, except by accident.
I would have more sweethearts.
I would go to more dances.
I would sing more songs and play more games.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I'd pick more daisies.
If I had my life to live over.

Prayer Request

Hi, I know I haven't posted for quite a while. This has been due to a very intensive 6 weeks of preparation for a bird watching course that I have been leading at church.
I had hoped to get down to something constructive on the blog side of things, but Judy and I have gone down with a very virulent form of influenza.
Something I haven't experienced since a child, and Judy's has turned into bronchitis.
We had planned to go to Ireland next week, me on business, and Judy as a last minute surprise, also incorporating a visit to our daughter in the UK on the way back.
I would appreciate any prayer from my dear friends out there as this is a trip we would dearly like to make.
God bless you all