Thought for the Week

‘YOU CAN muffle the drum and you can loosen the strings of the lyre, but who shall command the skylark not to sing?’

These are the words of the Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran.

It has been a long, hard winter, and it is not over yet, many people have told me.

We have battled our way across the beach every single day, regardless of the elements.

Hail has stung our cheeks, rain has soaked us, winds have battered us, but we go because we are dog walkers.

Yet, despite the adversity of the elements, we have enjoyed the challenge and felt the better of being out in the midst of nature’s varied moods.

However, just a few days ago nature had ceased her shouting and rested in a beautiful silence.

Snow-dusted mountain peaks reflected in shimmering lochs while trees stopped their swaying and dancing to just be still.

The waves ceased from their restless crashing and lapped listlessly to the shore.

It was then we heard it. It was the unmistakable song of the skylark.

She sings when on the wing and stops as she comes to rest.

It was wonderful and seemed like a special intimation of spring.

The air was clear and her song rose as if to enter the gates of heaven itself.

What a glorious song of praise.

I thought again of all that re-creation that happens in our very midst every day, and all we have to do is look for it.

Easter is a time of new life and new beginnings, of skylark song and life renewed.

Look for new life as you leave winter behind and feel the warmth of love’s fresh rays upon you.