36) Sparkling blue horizon
I have always loved vintage travel posters. There are quite a few in frames on the walls of my house. I especially love the one for Nice in the guest room. There’s a woman in the painting looking out from a hotel balcony at the sweep of the Baie des Anges, the palm trees, the old town and the mountains. The colours are so bright and inviting. I honeymooned in Nice over twenty years ago; and for me it will always be a place of charm and excitement. In my early 20s, I used to have a large painting by Raoul Dufy of that same coast. He probably painted that bay a hundred times, but in this one painting, the sea is a more dazzling blue than usual. Sparkling and rich like sapphire or lapiz lazuli. There’s a figure holding a parasol while looking out to sea. She's gazing out at the sparkling blue horizon. Full of sun-baked joy and golden possibility.
I think I know why my mind has wandered to thoughts of travel and far-off places: right now, a friend I’ve known for over forty years is waiting to board a plane from London to Adelaide to spend the next six weeks here. I’ve been de-cluttering and preparing the guest room, and my eyes have caught sight of that vintage Nice poster a dozen times since Sunday! But it’s also the start of a New Year – a chance to look forward and imagine what the year ahead may bring – the people and the places. Soon the lectionary will take us once again to the calling of the first disciples, who left everything and followed. And at the start of this New Year, a conscious invitation to follow comes once again to each of us. In Isaiah, those well-known words: “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” The invitation is there to step into the New Year, and to be open to its many possibilities. Like sheep, confidently following a Good Shepherd into whatever pastures lay ahead.
There’s an invitation in Jeremiah to walk, not on new paths, but on the good ancient paths: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” The invitation to follow in well-worn paths, holding on to well-loved Scripture, finding soul-rest in the familiar arms of the Good Shepherd, sensing the legacy of all the saints who have gone before us – our own pilgrimage somehow joining up with theirs. For sure, there are new discoveries, new moments of blessing, and I suspect also, new moments of faith-testing to be had this year. God will do His new thing, even as we find Him on those ancient paths. There is safe surrender in that.
A year ago, I wrote these words in a reflection:
‘And this New Year, with God’s help, I will lay down the sorrows and regrets of the past year, I will hand over to God my mistakes and anxieties, and the hurts and fears and pains I’ve felt. And I will hear again those words of Jesus, “whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.” This New Year, my prayer for Clayton Wesley is that we would hear and hold on to the words that Paul spoke to the church in Philippi. He said, “I am sure of this, that He who started a good work among you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”’
One year on, and I seem to have accumulated more sorrows and mistakes in the passing year! But I remain convinced of Paul’s words: the work begun in me will carry on. It’s ok to be a work in progress. It is more than ok to be a work in progress in the hands of a compassionate God who holds the future.
Last year on New Year’s Day, I set off into the Fleurieu swamps to find the rare Spiranthes orchid. I climbed fences and waded through chest-high tall-grass and didn’t find anything. I returned home disappointed, and sporting a sore shoulder from the many fences. I later found out that I was in the wrong place and too early. But yesterday, a friend called me from a swamp with the news that the Spiranthes were flowering and he’d meet me there to guide me to the spot! Without any hesitation, I put down my half-drunk mug of tea, jumped in the car and headed south to meet my friend. And just half an hour after I received the call, there I was, in good company, on swampy ground looking at the Spiranthes Australis in all their spiralled glory! The more I looked at them, the more beautiful they seemed…
There’s a lesson here in promise. Last year there were some orchid highlights – the Diuris daltonii wearing the crown. But look! Already, in the first week of this new year, a treasurable moment. I’m reminded of the line in a song: “She sees shooting stars and comet tails, she’s got heaven in her eyes.” Just yesterday, I finally saw the Spiranthes. Today, I have wonder and anticipation in my eyes. I have hope for the year ahead.
Of course, there’s a lesson here in patience too. It took a whole year of waiting before returning to the swamps.
And there’s a lesson here in following your heart. I dropped everything at the call – just like those first disciples did.
I know where my heart lies. It is soothed and strengthened on ancient paths, and wherever God would lead me. I don’t want to lose my way. Like Simon says, “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” I don’t want to be outside of His guiding hand.
Many years ago now, I bought a 1988 calendar in Bath. It was a Taschen Jazz calendar, full of black and white photos of famous jazz artists of the Fifties. I didn’t want the calendar. It was just that the picture for November caught my eye: Mrs. Donald Byrd about to cross a street in New York, with a trumpet in her hand, and the prettiest smile. Two large eyes. I stood so long looking at the picture with the shop-assistant watching me that I felt compelled to buy the whole calendar! I still have that image in a frame on my wall to this day. It’s a great image for the start of a New Year and new season: this isn’t New York, but like Mrs. Donald Byrd, I’m crossing from one side of the street to the other, crossing from one year into the next. My eyes, like hers, are wide and bright. I don’t carry a trumpet, but I do carry a thousand promises of Scripture, friendships and memories that sustain me, and the knowledge that I am held close to the Good Shepherd’s heart. I will follow where He leads and surrender everything to Him. Already in my ears I can hear sweet joyful music:
My song shall be of Jesus;
His mercy crowns my days,
He fills my cup with blessings,
And tunes my heart to praise;
My song shall be of Jesus,
Whatever ill betide;
I’ll sing the grace that saves me,
And keeps me at His side.
My song shall be of Jesus;
While pressing on my way,
To reach the blissful region
Of pure and perfect day;
And when my soul shall enter
The gate of Eden fair,
A song of praise to Jesus
I’ll sing forever there.
Olly Ponsonby, January 2025
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Scripture refs. Lk 5:11, Lk 5:28, Is 43:19, Ps 23:1-3, Jn 10:14, Jer 6:16, Jn 6:37, Phil 1:6, Jer 29:11, Jn 6:68, Is 40:11.
“Shooting stars and comet tails…” quote from Adam F Duritz, “Recovering the Satellites”, EMI Blackwood Music, Inc. (BMI)
“My song of Jesus” by Fanny J Crosby. Public Domain. https://hymnary.org/text/my_song_shall_be_of_jesus_his_mercy_crow