We are performers. We perform our jobs, our roles – wives, mothers, daughters, friends. We judge our performances: do we perform well, or badly? Or just so-so, when we’d like to perform better?
Who do we perform for? Others? Ourselves? God?
OUR AIM: to be like Jesus:
Mark 7:36-37 (The Message)
Jesus urged them to keep it quiet, but they talked it up all the more, beside themselves with excitement. "He's done it all and done it well. He gives hearing to the deaf, speech to the speechless."
What NOT to do: showing off as the Pharisees did:
Matthew 23:4-6 (The Message)
Jesus was upset that the Pharisees were making God’s law difficult for people, but he also warned against ‘showing off’: 4-7"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'
He also talked about this in the context of giving, and prayer:
Matthew 6:4-6 (New International Version)
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
WHAT HINDERS US FROM PERFORMING WELL?
Stress, tiredness, difficult people, deadlines, volume of work, illness…
This is not new! Philippians 4:12-14 (New International Version)
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
BUT HOW?
Jesus said: So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be (wo)men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13-15 (New International Version)
Be on your guard. Be alert for hindrances to performing well: other people – opposition; distraction; wrong prioritizing
Stand firm in the faith. My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (Contemporary English Version) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.( 1 Corinthians 15:10)
Paul was saved to give us hope. If he, who opposed Jesus’ followers so vehemently, could be saved, then so can we.
Be (wo)men of courage.
Be strong.
…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe Philippians 2:13-15 (New International Version)
Philippians 2:13-15 (The Message)
Rejoicing Together
12-13What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
Titus 2:6-8
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
1-6Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
7-8But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around. (New International Version)
2 Peter 1:3-4 (Contemporary English Version)
Living as the Lord's Followers
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God's own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
So, we don’t need to perform for anyone else, not even for ourselves. We need to ‘perform’ only for God. And that ‘performance’ just has to be our best. No more, no less.
FINALLY, BE ENCOURAGED
1 Thessalonians 1:2 – 5 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father
your work produced by faith,
your labour prompted by love, and
your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
For we know, sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
A final blessing:
Hebrews 13:20-22
18-21Pray for us. We have no doubts about what we're doing or why, but it's hard going and we need your prayers. All we care about is living well before God. Pray that we may be together soon.
May God, who puts all things together,
makes all things whole,
Who made a lasting mark through the sacrifice of Jesus,
the sacrifice of blood that sealed the eternal covenant,
Who led Jesus, our Great Shepherd,
up and alive from the dead,
Now put you together, provide you
with everything you need to please him,
Make us into what gives him most pleasure,
by means of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Messiah.
All glory to Jesus forever and always!
Oh, yes, yes, yes. (The Message)
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Sunday, 17 January 2010
Women: appearance
Women in the Workplace: Appearance January 2010
Appearance matters. Self-image matters
Looks; dress; manners – saying or doing the right thing;
Questions we ask ourselves: Am I smart enough? Does my bum look big in this? Why can’t I get my hair looking right?
Who am I? Who or what defines me?
When I am having a bad hair day – who am I?
When I don’t fit into a favourite pair of jeans – who am I?
When my make-up is less than flawless – who am I?
When I say the wrong thing – who am I?
When I can’t think of anything to say – who am I?
What does our appearance tell us we are?
Unattractive; beautiful – which we are proud of.
Not worth much; or we think we are more important than we really are, then get upset when others don’t give us the recognition we think we deserve.
Fat; good figure – better than...
Stupid; clever
Recognise the subtle sins we collect? Pride; self-importance; envy... even when we think we are NOT something – not beautiful, attractive, etc – we are saying to ourselves that we wish we WERE
We could beat ourselves up about this, but instead, let’s look at a few Bible verses which will encourage.
Let’s remember that, whatever, we look like, sound like... Jesus loves us.
Karl Barth: Jesus loves me, this I know, because the Bible tells me so.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Ecclesiastes 8
1 Who is like the wise man?
Who knows the explanation of things?
Wisdom brightens a man's face
and changes its hard appearance. NIV
1 How wonderful to be wise,
to analyze and interpret things.
Wisdom lights up a person’s face,
softening its harshness. New Living Translation
1 There's nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life.
Wisdom puts light in the eyes,
And gives gentleness to words and manners. The Message
On the other hand…
2 Samuel 14:25 (New International Version)
25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.
And then there was Jesus...
Isaiah 52:14 (New International Version)
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [a]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
Isaiah 53:2 (New International Version)
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
And later...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Captivating pages 12 - 17
“I just have some serious prayers invested, a few things I've done right, a bucket load of things I've done wrong, and the grace of a very forgiving God”.
Lysa Terkeust, on her blog.
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/
Appearance matters. Self-image matters
Looks; dress; manners – saying or doing the right thing;
Questions we ask ourselves: Am I smart enough? Does my bum look big in this? Why can’t I get my hair looking right?
Who am I? Who or what defines me?
When I am having a bad hair day – who am I?
When I don’t fit into a favourite pair of jeans – who am I?
When my make-up is less than flawless – who am I?
When I say the wrong thing – who am I?
When I can’t think of anything to say – who am I?
What does our appearance tell us we are?
Unattractive; beautiful – which we are proud of.
Not worth much; or we think we are more important than we really are, then get upset when others don’t give us the recognition we think we deserve.
Fat; good figure – better than...
Stupid; clever
Recognise the subtle sins we collect? Pride; self-importance; envy... even when we think we are NOT something – not beautiful, attractive, etc – we are saying to ourselves that we wish we WERE
We could beat ourselves up about this, but instead, let’s look at a few Bible verses which will encourage.
Let’s remember that, whatever, we look like, sound like... Jesus loves us.
Karl Barth: Jesus loves me, this I know, because the Bible tells me so.
Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.
1 Samuel 16:7 (New International Version)
7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Ecclesiastes 8
1 Who is like the wise man?
Who knows the explanation of things?
Wisdom brightens a man's face
and changes its hard appearance. NIV
1 How wonderful to be wise,
to analyze and interpret things.
Wisdom lights up a person’s face,
softening its harshness. New Living Translation
1 There's nothing better than being wise, Knowing how to interpret the meaning of life.
Wisdom puts light in the eyes,
And gives gentleness to words and manners. The Message
On the other hand…
2 Samuel 14:25 (New International Version)
25 In all Israel there was not a man so highly praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the top of his head to the sole of his foot there was no blemish in him.
And then there was Jesus...
Isaiah 52:14 (New International Version)
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him [a]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
Isaiah 53:2 (New International Version)
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.
1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
And later...
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Captivating pages 12 - 17
“I just have some serious prayers invested, a few things I've done right, a bucket load of things I've done wrong, and the grace of a very forgiving God”.
Lysa Terkeust, on her blog.
http://lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
In Quietness is Strength
The silence of an empty heart.
The silence of an unkind word.
The silence of a lonely friend.
The silence of a broken world.
The whisper of a gentle touch.
The whisper of a caring smile.
The whisper of a mother’s love.
The whisper of the extra mile.
The murmur of encouragement.
The murmur of approval.
The murmur of a truth once known.
The murmur of a love for all.
The shout of joyful songs of praise.
The shout of battles won.
The shout of blissful happiness.
The shout of struggles overcome.
The silence of pure calm and rest.
The silence in a heart at ease.
The silence between two loving minds
The silence from a sense of peace.
The silence of an unkind word.
The silence of a lonely friend.
The silence of a broken world.
The whisper of a gentle touch.
The whisper of a caring smile.
The whisper of a mother’s love.
The whisper of the extra mile.
The murmur of encouragement.
The murmur of approval.
The murmur of a truth once known.
The murmur of a love for all.
The shout of joyful songs of praise.
The shout of battles won.
The shout of blissful happiness.
The shout of struggles overcome.
The silence of pure calm and rest.
The silence in a heart at ease.
The silence between two loving minds
The silence from a sense of peace.
Saturday, 11 April 2009
Women in the workplace: Being a witness, making disciples
Last time we met, we talked about having enough time to balance busy lives. Today, we’ll think about opportunities at work.
Time is sufficient; but opportunities are lost
If we give ourselves enough time, we can be open to the challenges that God has for us. I don’t know about you, but I find it horrifyingly easy to divide myself into several different people depending on where I am, and often, they don’t resemble each other.
Let me give you an example. At church, I can be a listening ear, a smiling face, an enthusiastic worshipper. At home, when I’m tired at the end of the day, my ears can be far from listening and my mouth far too ready to talk. At other times, my church and home personalities overlap as I am equally ready to pray in either situation – but not at work, even when scenarios were uncannily similar. I’ll pray for a Christian friend or family member who is struggling with a difficult relationship; I won’t, usually, for a colleague – although, when I have occasionally done so, it has been well received.
There are people we know who stay the same wherever they are. How can we do that too?
Here were some suggestions for bringing your church or home person to work.
Be yourself Remember that you are the only Bible your work colleagues might ever read. No pressure, then! Don’t pretend to be someone you are not – and that includes not being a different person at work than at church. You are a Christian – act like one! And no, I don’t mean trying to be ‘good’, or ‘holy’. It is more than that. If, talking to a colleague, they share something that, if a Christian friend said the same, you might say that you would pray about it; or, if you would offer to do something for someone at church, why hold back in a similar situation just because you are at work?
Give your workmates a gift of time. Your colleague interrupts with a request. If the roles were reversed, what response would you be looking for? This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should drop what you are doing: an acknowledgement, a ‘can you give me 5 minutes and then I’ll be with you?’ will do just as well – just make sure it really is 5 minutes, not half an hour!
Treat your colleagues as you want to be treated. We all appreciate a friendly interest. Show them you care and appreciate them.
Make the most of opportunities. If a colleague has shared something personal, then ask after them at a later date. A friendly ‘how was your weekend?’ can open up conversations in unexpected ways.
Invite your colleagues home. Coffee, tea, lunch, dinner… whatever seems appropriate and is easy for you. Showing hospitality is powerful.
Take risks. Those who don’t ask don’t get. This applies to building relationships, offering prayer, sharing words of encouragement. It’s scary – but not as scary as the thought that Jesus will one day ask you why you didn’t share your treasure with others!
Remember who you are. A child of God. Keep in touch with your heavenly father by taking a few minutes to read some words from the Bible in your lunch break. Refocusing will help close the gap. Pray on your way to work; at work; before a meeting; at the end of the day. It can be hard to remember to do this when you are immersed in work, so give yourself reminders: set the alarm on your phone for a certain time; note a landmark on your way to work, associating it with a particular person or situation you are praying for; have a note – unobtrusively! - on a Post-it on your desk. Set your desktop background or screensaver with an inspirational picture or short message.
Time is sufficient; but opportunities are lost
If we give ourselves enough time, we can be open to the challenges that God has for us. I don’t know about you, but I find it horrifyingly easy to divide myself into several different people depending on where I am, and often, they don’t resemble each other.
Let me give you an example. At church, I can be a listening ear, a smiling face, an enthusiastic worshipper. At home, when I’m tired at the end of the day, my ears can be far from listening and my mouth far too ready to talk. At other times, my church and home personalities overlap as I am equally ready to pray in either situation – but not at work, even when scenarios were uncannily similar. I’ll pray for a Christian friend or family member who is struggling with a difficult relationship; I won’t, usually, for a colleague – although, when I have occasionally done so, it has been well received.
There are people we know who stay the same wherever they are. How can we do that too?
Here were some suggestions for bringing your church or home person to work.
Be yourself Remember that you are the only Bible your work colleagues might ever read. No pressure, then! Don’t pretend to be someone you are not – and that includes not being a different person at work than at church. You are a Christian – act like one! And no, I don’t mean trying to be ‘good’, or ‘holy’. It is more than that. If, talking to a colleague, they share something that, if a Christian friend said the same, you might say that you would pray about it; or, if you would offer to do something for someone at church, why hold back in a similar situation just because you are at work?
Give your workmates a gift of time. Your colleague interrupts with a request. If the roles were reversed, what response would you be looking for? This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should drop what you are doing: an acknowledgement, a ‘can you give me 5 minutes and then I’ll be with you?’ will do just as well – just make sure it really is 5 minutes, not half an hour!
Treat your colleagues as you want to be treated. We all appreciate a friendly interest. Show them you care and appreciate them.
Make the most of opportunities. If a colleague has shared something personal, then ask after them at a later date. A friendly ‘how was your weekend?’ can open up conversations in unexpected ways.
Invite your colleagues home. Coffee, tea, lunch, dinner… whatever seems appropriate and is easy for you. Showing hospitality is powerful.
Take risks. Those who don’t ask don’t get. This applies to building relationships, offering prayer, sharing words of encouragement. It’s scary – but not as scary as the thought that Jesus will one day ask you why you didn’t share your treasure with others!
Remember who you are. A child of God. Keep in touch with your heavenly father by taking a few minutes to read some words from the Bible in your lunch break. Refocusing will help close the gap. Pray on your way to work; at work; before a meeting; at the end of the day. It can be hard to remember to do this when you are immersed in work, so give yourself reminders: set the alarm on your phone for a certain time; note a landmark on your way to work, associating it with a particular person or situation you are praying for; have a note – unobtrusively! - on a Post-it on your desk. Set your desktop background or screensaver with an inspirational picture or short message.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
Giants from the Past
A short walk through the town and school of Rugby; so many literary associations.
My travels did not take me very far. Just a short walk to school, a dive back of a hundred years or more. Two hundred yards from home took me to my first remembered pain: the War Memorial, standing proud for fourscore years and ten, now accuses my neglect of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen whose words have seared my soul.
I hurried on; that insignificant Edwardian house I passed now bears a bright blue plaque: I wish it were a happier memory. How brief, how rich in poetry was the life of Rupert Brooke. Another sensitive, senseless victim of a horrid war. Did he, I wonder, realise how futile his death was? We were robbed of much delight. My treasured volume of his collected poems endured moves between continents.
Then, turning a corner, I passed by The Close. The hallowed grass of Rugby School trodden upon by many authors, not least Thomas Hughes of Tom Brown’s Schooldays fame. Matthew Arnold, whose poems I have always loved; Arthur Ransome, whose nephew was a great friend of my father’s:I treasure his books still; Salman Rushdie; D Watkins-Pitchford – ‘BB’- who enchanted me with stories of the miniature Little Grey Men and their adventures on the tiny stream I fished for minnows; Anthony Horowitz, teacher’s friend – who else excites young boys as much as Alex Rider Secret Agent?
Rushdie I did not know; Horowitz was my age; yet the others were as much a part of my growing up in Rugby as my own family. As I grew older, the walk to school became a walk to the hospital; a dog walk; a short cut to town: yet, whatever my purpose or my destination, the words still whispered to me from the buildings I passed. I remember them still.
My travels did not take me very far. Just a short walk to school, a dive back of a hundred years or more. Two hundred yards from home took me to my first remembered pain: the War Memorial, standing proud for fourscore years and ten, now accuses my neglect of Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen whose words have seared my soul.
I hurried on; that insignificant Edwardian house I passed now bears a bright blue plaque: I wish it were a happier memory. How brief, how rich in poetry was the life of Rupert Brooke. Another sensitive, senseless victim of a horrid war. Did he, I wonder, realise how futile his death was? We were robbed of much delight. My treasured volume of his collected poems endured moves between continents.
Then, turning a corner, I passed by The Close. The hallowed grass of Rugby School trodden upon by many authors, not least Thomas Hughes of Tom Brown’s Schooldays fame. Matthew Arnold, whose poems I have always loved; Arthur Ransome, whose nephew was a great friend of my father’s:I treasure his books still; Salman Rushdie; D Watkins-Pitchford – ‘BB’- who enchanted me with stories of the miniature Little Grey Men and their adventures on the tiny stream I fished for minnows; Anthony Horowitz, teacher’s friend – who else excites young boys as much as Alex Rider Secret Agent?
Rushdie I did not know; Horowitz was my age; yet the others were as much a part of my growing up in Rugby as my own family. As I grew older, the walk to school became a walk to the hospital; a dog walk; a short cut to town: yet, whatever my purpose or my destination, the words still whispered to me from the buildings I passed. I remember them still.
From Out of Africa
Karen Blixen's evocative book inspired memories of a walk back into her past.
“I had a farm in Africa…” Karen Blixen’s house still stands, gazing out towards the grey green Ngong Hills. Even in her day there were cars, as now, yet I walk with Kenyans who have no other means. I trudge through the suburb, once a coffee plantation, now lined with gracious mansions and high-walled gardens. Then there were red-earth dusty tracks, no gates, no barriers; now, tarmac, steel gates, electric fences.
The house reeks with memories: of a simpler lifestyle horribly complicated by relationships, by disease, by death. How did she live with the recollection of a husband who deliberately infected her with syphilis; a lover who betrayed with other women and, ultimately, with death? I wander from room to empty room, footsteps echoing hollowly on the bare wooden floors. Sadness and melancholy, unhappiness and gloom amidst the vibrancy of Africa.
I have accompanied Karen on many of her journeys. Just as she flew over the dusty landscape with Denys Finch-Hatton, so have I; just as she struggled into the centre of Nairobi in an unreliable car, so have I; just as she walked among the coffee bushes, picking the ripe berries, so have I. Just as she bore the life of Africa in her body, so do I. Her memories were so vivid that she recreated her fascination from distant Denmark. Seas, continents and loneliness could not rob her of her love.
The memories are bitter-sweet, yet the joy, the abundant life, the anticipation and the hope that is Africa journeys on.
“I had a farm in Africa…” Karen Blixen’s house still stands, gazing out towards the grey green Ngong Hills. Even in her day there were cars, as now, yet I walk with Kenyans who have no other means. I trudge through the suburb, once a coffee plantation, now lined with gracious mansions and high-walled gardens. Then there were red-earth dusty tracks, no gates, no barriers; now, tarmac, steel gates, electric fences.
The house reeks with memories: of a simpler lifestyle horribly complicated by relationships, by disease, by death. How did she live with the recollection of a husband who deliberately infected her with syphilis; a lover who betrayed with other women and, ultimately, with death? I wander from room to empty room, footsteps echoing hollowly on the bare wooden floors. Sadness and melancholy, unhappiness and gloom amidst the vibrancy of Africa.
I have accompanied Karen on many of her journeys. Just as she flew over the dusty landscape with Denys Finch-Hatton, so have I; just as she struggled into the centre of Nairobi in an unreliable car, so have I; just as she walked among the coffee bushes, picking the ripe berries, so have I. Just as she bore the life of Africa in her body, so do I. Her memories were so vivid that she recreated her fascination from distant Denmark. Seas, continents and loneliness could not rob her of her love.
The memories are bitter-sweet, yet the joy, the abundant life, the anticipation and the hope that is Africa journeys on.
The Rock
I discover Victor Hugo's inspired life in Guernsey.with a visit to this tiny island in the English Channel. Known affectionately still as 'The Rock', it was a refuge for the great writer during Napoleon's reign.
I arrive from the sea. As the ferry eases down the Little Russell between Guernsey and Herm, the town of St Peter Port opens up to view. It has changed little since Victor Hugo landed here 150 years ago: despite some modern additions, pastel coloured buildings still jostle together in narrow cobbled streets. Boats fill the harbour; the fish market sells fish; Castle Cornet stands sentinel.
A short climb up a quiet street devoid of traffic leads to Hauteville House, Victor Hugo’s sanctuary for 15 years. A monument to his art, its walls and ceilings are covered with carpets; furniture of dark, intricately carved wood is integral with the building. One ceiling is lined with ceramics; another room with tiles. The darkroom is hidden in a cupboard. The winter garden is a conservatory with inspirational views of the islands. A glass eyrie at the top is where this literary giant wrote, standing at a writing desk.
Fiercely opposed to Napoleon, Victor Hugo sought refuge in Guernsey after he had to flee France. The island inspired him: its harsh, rugged cliffs combined with its gentle inland scenery, the hidden coves, a profusion of plant life growing abundantly in a mild climate. It was here that he wrote several of his most famous works: notably ‘Les Miserables’ and the work he devoted to the people of Guernsey, ‘The Toilers of the Sea’: “I dedicate this book to the rock of hospitality, to this corner of old Norman land where resides the noble little people of the sea, to the Island of Guernsey, severe and yet gentle…”.
Walking the streets, discovering the beaches mirrored in his paintings, surrounded by descendants of those he knew, it is easy to follow in the footsteps of this great man. He seems to be here still.
I arrive from the sea. As the ferry eases down the Little Russell between Guernsey and Herm, the town of St Peter Port opens up to view. It has changed little since Victor Hugo landed here 150 years ago: despite some modern additions, pastel coloured buildings still jostle together in narrow cobbled streets. Boats fill the harbour; the fish market sells fish; Castle Cornet stands sentinel.
A short climb up a quiet street devoid of traffic leads to Hauteville House, Victor Hugo’s sanctuary for 15 years. A monument to his art, its walls and ceilings are covered with carpets; furniture of dark, intricately carved wood is integral with the building. One ceiling is lined with ceramics; another room with tiles. The darkroom is hidden in a cupboard. The winter garden is a conservatory with inspirational views of the islands. A glass eyrie at the top is where this literary giant wrote, standing at a writing desk.
Fiercely opposed to Napoleon, Victor Hugo sought refuge in Guernsey after he had to flee France. The island inspired him: its harsh, rugged cliffs combined with its gentle inland scenery, the hidden coves, a profusion of plant life growing abundantly in a mild climate. It was here that he wrote several of his most famous works: notably ‘Les Miserables’ and the work he devoted to the people of Guernsey, ‘The Toilers of the Sea’: “I dedicate this book to the rock of hospitality, to this corner of old Norman land where resides the noble little people of the sea, to the Island of Guernsey, severe and yet gentle…”.
Walking the streets, discovering the beaches mirrored in his paintings, surrounded by descendants of those he knew, it is easy to follow in the footsteps of this great man. He seems to be here still.
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