While it's good to be led by still waters, I enjoy the sound of running water, rippling over stones and dark peaty colour after the rain.
This is as pastoral a scene as you'll find - Psalm 23 set in Scotland, and we aren't all that far from Crimond, the most famous Psalm tune of them all - apart from the Old One Hundredth maybe. By this time Sheila was getting impatient with her tag along tourist with a camera stopping every few minutes to gawk.
As a boy on the farms I spent years around sheep at lambing time. I've never lost affection for these gentle, timid animals. And the instinctive protectiveness of a mother placing herself in front of the lamb, between it and danger - see the one peeping through the legs!
I find the sound of water like this irresistible. To sit beside this for five minutes is as good as listening to the most healing music. That story of Jesus and the Woman of Samaria, and the well of water springing up to eternal life; or Amos, let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
This little poser has no idea of the dramatic backdrop of Clach na Ben. Amongst the joys of the day was watching two lambs further down racing each other round the rushes and rocks beside the river. They must have played for several minutes - and as Sheila said, they were intentional in their playing, and their energy and balance reminded me that these animals have their own beauty.
"Mine eyes look to the hills - from whence doth help come? Help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth."
Quite so - and it was a great day walking in a Glen between the hills on either side, reminder of that help.
Comments