Spiritual Places:

Sunrise on the Ridgeway

Victim or Survivor

The view along the Ridgeway,

As the sun rises in the sky,

Evokes a sense of wonder

And sheer beauty to the eye;

This scene of wondrous beauty

¾ which did not come by chance,

Brings the soul in touch with nature

And will the inner self enhance.

God’s hand so clear and plain there

In that ‘painting’ in the sky

Brings God so close beside us,

And lifts our spirits high.

For God cares for all our living

And provides for all our needs

So by sight and other senses

Our seeking souls He feeds.

But in the busyness of life

As we go about our duty

We oft can find a place of peace

¾a gift of ‘calming’ beauty.

A place to go to offer prayer

Or to shed a tear or two

When life’s frustrations bring us low

And we don’t know what to do.

We find a quiet place of prayer

[as if the doors have closed behind]

and find such peace, and calm repose

of a very special kind.

The cares of life just fade away

Bringing comfort to the soul,

Knowing God is with us there

To make broken spirits whole.

So, in scenes such as the Ridgeway

And the lovely countryside,

Where we see God’s hand in nature

And know in Him we can abide;

Remember that in busyness

In the stress of working day

God is in the midst of it

¾He’s with us all the way.

Anne Gray  [August 2003]

I asked my Lord, I asked each day-

‘How long must I feel this way?’

I came to Him with all my woes,

Brought Him all my highs and lows.

I did not know how to survive

I really did not feel alive;

My thoughts and feelings all for self,

Cares for others, on the shelf.

And then one day, advice I heard,

[which seemed at first to be absurd]

“A real survivor you can be

From ‘victim feelings’ be set free”

These words I could not comprehend

And my deep feelings did defend,

But from my heart a prayer did raise.

That God would all my hurt erase.

The hurt, I’m sure, will rear its head

As on the path of life I tread,

But by God’s most wondrous grace,

The joy of life I will embrace.

I know I’ve much to thank God for,

As He showed to me the open door

To life in all its blessedness,

And showed the way to happiness.

And so the pain I hope will ease

And that deep down I’ll know God’s peace,

Remembering joys that came my way

Both in the past, and each new day,

I know that I must trust my Lord

And listen to His every word.

I love my Lord, He loves me too,

I know He’ll give me life anew.

 Anne Gray January 2004

Based on an article in ‘Take a Break’ Magazine

Published in ‘Make Each Day Count’  Anchor Books, Remus House, Coltsfoot Drive, Woodston, Peterborough PE2 9JX in 2004

 ISBN No. 1 844183564