On our quiet walk, we found this in a little old English church. We instantly forgot the world and our troubles.
Ann and I stumbled upon an old English church while walking the old English countryside in a rare break from overwork. Inside was this amazing baptismal font with its bas-relief of ancient kings. We stopped to venerate and to meditate.
Quiet Walk
If you are feeling at a loss,
That your life has been a toss,
Try going for a quiet walk,
Listen to your inmost talk.
If a-walking you should go,
Do your walking very slow
To take in all the sights,
See the shadows through the lights.
Listen to the rhythm of your walk,
A quiet walk will never mock
The truth that lies within your heart;
Let not the truth divorce your heart.
And if perchance you come across
An old stone church, an old stone cross,
Stop and venerate a while,
And you will find the fault in style;
You will learn to value substance
As the key to life—take your stance—
Should you find the need to talk
Along your own pastoral walk.
A Good Life’s Poem
And if perchance you come across
A lonely soul who’s at a loss,
Stop and comfort her or him,
Your own true light will never dim.
If you come across an old tomb stone,
Listen to its eternal tone,
It’s Mother Earth’s eternal song,
Honour those who’ve past, take them along.
If you are feeling at a loss,
That your life has been a toss,
Try going for a quiet walk,
Listen to your inmost talk.
If a-walking you should go,
Do your walking very slow
To take in all the sights,
See the shadows through the lights.
Listen to the rhythm of your walk,
A quiet walk will never mock
The truth that lies within your heart;
Let not the truth divorce your heart.
And if perchance you come across
Church bells used to call the faithful to worship. Now the neighbours complain about the noise
An old stone church, an old stone cross,
Stop and venerate a while,
And you will find the fault in style;
You will learn to value substance
As the key to life—take your stance—
Should you find the need to talk
Along your own pastoral walk.
And if perchance you come across
A lonely soul who’s at a loss,
Stop and comfort her or him,
Your own true light will never dim.
If you come across an old tomb stone,
Listen to its eternal tone,
It’s Mother Earth’s eternal song,
Honour those who’ve past, take them along.
And if along your pleasant walk
You hear the ancient church bell talk,
Take it as your own warning bell
And make your life one worth to tell.
Walk on, walk on and meditate,
Set your compass to gravitate
Toward a higher value’s sum
And the better things yet to come.
The Mortuary Chests IN THIS OLD English church includes this plaque commemorates the ancient kings of the area. The list begins with King Cynegils, the first Chritian king of Wessex, 611-643, includes the famous king who demonstrated that kings could not stop the ocean waves, CANUTE, 1016-1035, and ends with Stiganty, 1047-1070. We walked away invigorated and refreshed from our quiet walk. You never know what will come out of a quiet walk.
Do this and then come back home,
You’ll be at peace, not want to roam;
Your loved one’s now in her new home,
Eternal rest, a good life’s poem.
And if along your pleasant walk
You hear the ancient church bell talk,
Take it as your own warning bell
And make your life one worth to tell.
Walk on, walk on and meditate,
Set your compass to gravitate
Toward a higher value’s sum
And the better things yet to come.
Do this and then come back home,
You’ll be at peace, not want to roam;
Your loved one’s now in her new home,
Eternal rest, a good life’s poem.
CREDITS: All photos on this page were taken by H. W. Bryce.
(As all the words written on this page are by H. W. Bryce.)
