IT’S BEEN A BUSY START!
This year we spent the first day of January with family and friends at Skelmorlie on the Clyde coast, at the home of my son Allan and wife Jacqui. The best of cuisine in the best of company. On the second day of January we met again at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall for ‘The Messiah’ presentation by the Scottish National Orchestra and Chorus – absolutely beautiful and inspiring! To finish the day we had a tour around the centre of Glasgow to see the ‘Christmas lights’ before they were dismantled for another year! The following sunny but frosty day we made a visit to my daughter and son-in-law at Gartmore, and finally at the end of that first week we met with friends for our annual church day of prayer. Whew, yes a busy start! Photos follow.
The wintry west extends his blast,
the stormy north sends driving forth ..
Other special big events so far this year, included a trip to hospital with my wife who was having the first of two cataracts removed from her eyes. Thankfully she is already seeing much clearer and sharper in the one eye as a result. Also, we received news that our grand-daughter Lindsey and husband Jamie had presented us with another new great-grandson named Finn. Mother and child both well and now at home.
On a sadder note we have said our farewells on this earth to a number of our older family members and friends during the last few weeks. But we await with hope a reunion in a day to come in the presence of our risen and exalted Lord Jesus Christ.
A VISIT TO THE ROBERT BURNS MEMORIAL IN ALLOWAY, SCOTLAND
Here in Scotland, just exactly one month after Christmas, on the 25 January we celebrate Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns and his amazing poetical works. So since the weather turned a bit milder this week, we used our National Trust Cards to visit the thatched cottage where Robert Burns was born in Alloway, and the nearby Burns Museum and coffee shop. It’s well worth a visit if you haven’t been, or haven’t been for a while. Here are some photos, and a couple of short excerpts from two of his best known poems.
died 21 July 1796
‘Tam o Shanter’ by Robert Burns ‘But pleasures are like poppies spread: You seize the flower, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow fall on the river,
A moment white – then melts forever
‘To a Mouse’ by Robert Burns
But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft a-gley, And lea’e us nought but grief and pain, For promised joy!
I love so many of Burn’s poems and songs, but perhaps my favourite is ‘The Cotters Saturday night‘ which gives such a great picture into family life for many here in Scotland away back in the eighteenth century. I have recorded my recitation of it on You Tube and you can listen to it here if you wish. https://youtu.be/2DJf4xWGZdg?si=huyDHOFIDWMY0lPK
I have seldom if ever, heard anyone quote the words of Robert Burns as he faced death, but in 1781 when that seemed imminent he wrote these words.
O Thou unknown, Almighty Cause of all my hopes and fears, in whose dread presence, ere an hour, Perhaps I must appear. If I have wandered in those paths Of life I aught to shun; As something loudly in my breast Remonstrates I have done.
The last verse says:
Where with intention I have erred, No other plea I have, But thou art good; and goodness still delighteth to forgive.
Sad to read of his uncertainty regarding his final eternal destiny, when it is possible to be sure! When we go on a journey we invariably have everything organised to the last detail, and particularly our final hotel/Guest House accommodation. Yet on our journey through life, thoughts of our final destination are often completely ignored. Our morning Bible reading today was from Matthew 7:13,14. where Jesus says
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.’ Jesus is the Gate! (John 10.9) and Jesus is the Way (John 14:6)
So in our current uncertain and unpredictable world where none of us knows what a day may bring, I would ask you, do you know the road you are on? and have you thought of your final destination? In the bible the Apostle John writing to Christians in his first letter says ‘And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.’ (1 John 5:11,12)
Time to check it out?
Until next time – I wish you God’s blessing wherever you are.
Matthew
Matthew McKinnon's Blog 