August 5, 2009

• postcards from England: "Flower in the Crannied Wall" (Tennyson)

  While we were in England I didn't do much traveling, but one place I did drive (yes, I drove on the left side of the road!) was to Lincoln where I saw the cathedral there. It was a rainy day (not to be unexpected in England), but after the weather cleared I walked the grounds a bit and found this statue of Alfred Tennyson.

  

  The words on the plaque are from one of Tennyson's poems,
  "Flower in the Crannied Wall," written in 1869.

  Though Tennyson was not a Christian,
  I still believe there is a powerful message for us in his words.

  

  If you look closely, you can see the flower, root and all, in Tennyson's hand...

  

  Flower in the crannied wall,
  I pluck you out of the crannies,
  I hold you here, root and all, in my hand,
  Little flower–but if I could understand
  What you are, root and all, and all in all,
  I should know what God and man is.

  I've not had to pluck a flower to remind me
  for God's Holy Spirit has been reminding me,
  but when I begin to forget what God and man is,
  perhaps it might be wise for me to go and pluck a flower out of the crannies
  and hold it in my hand, so He might remind me once more.
  And if you are in need of such a reminder today,
  perhaps it might serve you well to go and pluck a flower
  so He might remind you too...

  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it . 6 The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 7 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 8 The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

  –Isaiah 40:5-8

  O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: 7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; 8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. 9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
  

  –Psalm 8

  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children' children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
  

  –Psalm 103:8-18

  Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
  

  –Isaiah 66:1-2

  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
  

  –Matthew 5:4-5

  
  For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
  

  –Psalm 149:4
  

  • 9:13 AM
  • Leave a comment