Pembroke Wales

To continue our thoughts about Job. God answers Job’s demand for a courtroom trial by shifting debate to awe through questions. For example God exposes limits: ‘Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Where are the foundations fastened?’ Job38

God shows care for creation: ‘Do you know when the mountain goats calve? Who provides the raven food? Job 38,39.Then there is a detailed descrption of Leviathan with ‘ out of his mouth goes a flame… he laughs at the shaking of the spear.’ Job 41,42

Job’s perspective is shifted from narrow human pain to the vast, complex wonder of a universe he can’t fully understand or manage.

God says this to the eldest of Job’s friends, Eliphaz: ‘ I am angry with you and your two friends because what you said about Me is not right. ‘ Job 42:7,8

These friends incorrectly assumed that all suffering is a direct punishment for personal sin. They wrongly accused Job of hidden wickedness and claimed to fully understand Divine justice.

God then tells these friends what to do: ‘Now go and ask Job to sacrifice what you take to him and ask him to pray for you.’

Part of Job’s response to God was this: ‘ I know that You can do every thing, and that no thought can be held back from You…my eyes see You… I repent in dust and ashes. Job 42: 2,6

It is then said: ‘ Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar did what God said and the LORD accepted Job and he was blessed with twice as much as he had before.’

Job 42 :9,10.

Job, an ancient account which because of its obvious setting of Arabian Desert culture shows that there were worshippers of God outside the confines of Abraham’s descendents. It was most likely written by Moses who spent 40 years in Midian. A good read.

We travelled on from Cardiff to Pembroke. A town dominated by a castle. It was wood and earth in 1097 but then a man known as the greatest medieval knight in Europe turned it into a fine stone castle. William Marshal was the knight and his castle is known as Pembrokeshire Castle.

William Marshal’s last words were;

‘ I am dying, and commend you to God. I am no longer able to think of your needs, for I cannot fight against death.’

It never fell despite many attacks by Welsh forces, the mighty stone walls and natural river defenses kept the castle safe.

This photograph was taken in late evening. It isn’t as hot here as it was in England and the sun came from behind the clouds for a few moments.

January 28 1457, this castle was the birth place of Henry Tudor, (later King Henry VII) he later defeated Richard III at Bosworth field, starting the famous Tudor royal family.

Beneath the castle is a giant natural cave, Wogan’s cave, this may have helped the Tudors hide and escape during dangerous times. It was locked at the time of our visit.

Now that we are in Ireland it seems important to mention Cromwell as he is important here as well. During the English Civil War Cromwell and about 6,000 men took the fortress after those inside held out for 7 weeks. Cromwell caused enough damage to make the castle a place not viable to use.

Then let us walk up the main street where something awaits us.

It took two years to make and then I spoke to the ‘ creator’. We are in a Welsh church and this fine lady shows me something else she made. Both the kneeler and the fine work on the cloth. She smiled as she said: ‘ I bought the cotton for the cloth in Ireland, (the place we are heading to.) It cost £40 and it is the finest sheet used to make priests’ bed linen. She then went on to tell me her story.

‘ I met him when he was 12, all pimply he was. We sang together in the choir. Then when in our twenties we went out on a date to see ‘ JAWs’ I grabbed his arm, that was me done, he wasn’t sure, so we waited another year and then got married at 24. We had two boys and now we have four granddaughters.’ Oh, how easily the story flowed. All those years in a few sentences. Then back to the brightly coloured creation it was already sold for £100. A hundred pounds for two years’ work.

The ladies were raising one million for a leaking church tower!

The problematic tower is just above the roof of the orange building.

From Pembroke, its fine castle and swans we left for Ireland.

Here is a map showing the direction of travel for four hours. Bess, with no extra cost was with us in a lounge for those who consider their dogs part of the family.

I brought some pastels with to amuse myself during those four calm sea hours and here is a pond lily:

Held by the break in a lily pad, and covered by a shadow from grass, the lily floats under a hot sun on warm, dark water.

A bit flat and tired looking but I had left my reading glasses in Bugzy. I quite like pastels.

And so we are in Ireland.We took the ferry from Pembroke to Rosslare.

Take care,

Sandy 🙂