2023/33 PATTERNS

The thing about an island is that there is a lot of coast, there for the taking if you choose to see it. So we chose. And what a view we had! 

This morning I made a quick breakfast of porridge, rashers, berries and scones before we loaded up the carriage and drove up through Cornwall and Devon. Eventually we crossed over the river to Wales, stopping along the way to catch our breath from the excessive sighs the beauty demanded of us.

In our journey I found myself keenly aware of the marked contrast between the wild natural beauty of the landscape and the patterns that added edges and definition to the wildness. All day long I kept seeing patterns, some man made, and some springing from the fingertips of God.

Slate, gathered from the land, cut in squares and laid in precise patterns.
Miles and miles of it. I wondered how long it took to create this wall,
and whose hands did the work, and what those hands might have done when they were not
laying stone on stone.

How rough the hands of stone masons must have been.

Heather hanging over rock work.
God and Man.

Patterns under our feet.

rock, plaster, wood, glass, metal...all in patterns.

The tops of all these slate walls are unique.

I suppose they ran out of the white granite and continued with what they had.
Either that, or part of this land belonged to one brother and the other to another.

Even the hillsides were patterned.

So much rock!

At some point they built up the land on one side of this river,
which leads out to the sea. The water runs across large slate stones.

How old does a roof have to be to start sinking like this?

Lovely patterns make way for water.

The long thin hedgerows gave way to curbs and lines. Gravel and dirt became crumbling asphalt, which turned to lined concrete and steel girders. Once you start looking for patterns you’ll find them everywhere.

The hedgerows gave way to woodlands...

...which became towns ...

... which led to cities. (crossing over into Wales)

The roads became wider, and faster.
we are thankful for GPS.

While we drove we followed another pattern, over the airwaves, listening to witnesses and wisdom from our church leaders in LDS General Conference.

Listening to General Conference many miles away.

Those words brought our thoughts to other patterns, divine ones set in scriptural stone and in the crevices of our hearts.

Palm patterned wallpaper

Another pattern of palms.

A perfect pattern to follow.

A blessed Palm Sunday.