Journal/ Coast to Coast—Day 14
Journal/ Coast to Coast—Day 14
Date: September 4th, 2017/ Reeth to Richmond
“Up above a castle! Down below a stream!
Up above a ruin! Down below a dream!
Man made the castle, rude, forbidding, bare.
God made the river, swift, eternal, fair.”
From the recollections of Mr M Wise as
recorded in Richmond Yorkshire in 1830sIn the blink of an eye…
we were ‘in’ a castle.
Its ruins still standing, holding ground—
creating THIS town, Richmond.
Those who dwelt here carried with them the ‘keys’ to the kingdom—
A kingdom holding others at bay…
even the churches governed by its king.
The architecture—its mastery…created by the
peasants who dwelt outside.
Perhaps, they lived beside the river
or a ‘spot’ of land with towering trees.
The little they had~~~
those outside the castle walls—
knew the gift of work,
but they understood ‘heaven’s’ HOME
they dwelt within.
They offered thanks in hardship
and celebrated life as if it were a song played on and on
through chirping birds, baying ewes AND
soldiers marching through the streets.
Immersed in history—
pages from our past bringing to life—NOW!
Here in this ‘landscape’
I have met the most hospitable persons.
I am NOT staying in castles…
When we arrive at our homestead for
the evening, yes, we two strangers, knock
upon a door—warmly we are greeted,
invited in…SUDDENLY—we are
NEIGHBORS.
ALWAYS—the invitation to tea,
fresh baked goods lavishly arranged in our rooms…
a banquet of plenty.
Here in this moment…this dwelling place—
the reign of God.
How absolutely beautiful, both in pictures and in word. Thank you for sharing the gift of this journey. I feel like I am there! 🙂
YOU are:)