A Sabbath walk along the Loire

First here are three verses I thought about today. These communicate my true/real love of Jesus, God’s son, and they carry no other meaning than that I believe as all Christians do in Christ as our Saviour.

Jesus is talking to Thomas during the last supper, a meal Jesus ate with His disciples before He allowed the Romans to crucify Him. Thomas wants an answer to this question: Where are you going Jesus?’

Jesus: ‘ I am the way, the truth, and the life: no persons comes to Father God, but by Me.’

John 14: 6

Then later Jesus, God’s son, speaks through John:

‘As many as I love, I rebuke and punish, be enthusiastic to repent. Look I am standing at the door and I am knocking, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to them and eat with them and they will eat with me.’ ( Sandy’s wording of Revelations 3: 19,20)

Then a thought from David of his experience of God.

‘ Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the person who trusts in Him.’ Psalm 34:8

Our church where we worshipped today in Orleans is a short walk through a park and then there is a surprising view of the Loire River.

This section of the river is flowing well with an extensive cycle path. One may experience a view of the river from three perspectives. A high path, a low path and a wall which has water on each side making a canal. We were on the lower path when an elderly lady walking with two sticks came to sit beside us on a bench. Our French and her English helped us understand this conversation:

The lady: ‘ I used to run this three times a week when I was young.’ There was a longing in her voice.

Me: ‘ That was good! You did it when you could!’ We both smiled!

To myself I said. ‘ Do things while you can, Sandy! Have no longing for more time or opportunity!

Here are three views of the river and one of a plant I haven’t seen growing close up, Mistletoe.

Our walk along the Loire in Orléans which is the gateway to the UNESCO listed Loire Valley.

Here are the words of a French novelist Anna Gavalda:

‘ She drew the Loire slow, wide, calm, imperturbable. The lazy sandbanks, the pilings, the mildewed boats. Over there, a cormorant. Pale rushes and the blue of the sky. A winter blue- metallic brilliant, bold showing off its colours between two big weary clouds.’

This position on the higher path allowed me to look into the tree. I smiled as I saw a church steeple held by the branches on the left and the mistletoe on the right. Almost a story there.

We will remember this place as a good place to cycle. Last year further down the river the water was frozen along the edges, where we spent the night. It has been a bright day to enjoy walking today. We will travel on!

Take care,

Sandy 🙂