2010:365:142 Power

While getting "stuff" for tomorrow's service in Saint Nicholas' I stopped by the City Hall to take a few pictures of the crowds enjoying the sunshine and the statues.  I think that monuments from an earlier era are like snapshots rather than statements.  Modern figures often try to make a point and they look for a reaction.  This one of Queen Victoria, and the others in the City Hall grounds, appear just to record an image of a person and something of their role in society.

Here Queen Victoria stands gazing along Royal Avenue not really saying anything.  That photograph was processed to remove the sky colour and soften the lines.  If you want to see how the photograph began... then have a look here:  http://snapshotsofalife.shutterfly.com/pictures/1067

This one is straight out of the camera (SOOC) and taken from the upstairs window of the Linen Hall Library where they serve a very tasty lunch.  The central stair case is a great feature of the building and I love to take a wander in, read a paper and enjoy the "old world" atmosphere of silence and books.  

With tomorrow being the Day of Pentecost I've been thinking about power.... the power of the Holy Spirit to direct, to bring about change, to give power to the church.... Power, real power, doesn't lie in the hands of the monarchy (or a republic); it isn't in the control of local or national government; it isn't found in financial institutions or industry.... Real power lies with the one who said, "Let there be light... and there was light....".  

I'll do some more thinking about this as I take Eliot and Angel for a walk.  Angel is our house guest until this evening and you should see the power in her legs!

She's built to run... and she does it very, very well!  What are we built to do?  The Presbyterian answer to that is: "to glorify God and to enjoy God for ever"!  Can you think of any better way to spend your life?

Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the Church of Jesus constant will remain;
gates of hell can never 'gainst that Church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.

Church Hymnal number 659

"Onward Christian Soldiers" by Sabine Baring-Gould