The Green Path
You keep showing me the green grass
It’s the path I must follow
The colour of renewal
The one thing I will always know
Is that you shimmering beside me?
It is you but not you
But I am comforted by your presence
I know that I am not alone
I can see my feet in the grass
Moving as if to go forwards
But I don’t really need them
Just a thought propels me onwards
Your light starts to enfold me
Keeping me from any fear
I had started to wonder
If any of this was really there
Now I know it was always you
There all my life waiting so patiently
Walking down the green path
Coming forwards to collect me
*****
This work for Easter Sunday was based on a vision I had while sitting in the church of Ripe, a village in Sussex beneath the Downs near where I live. I had gone that day to take some photographs of this beautiful place, one I had visited previously in my life from time to time. As I sat in the church the light came in the East Window and lit up the church. As I gazed down to the Altar and this light the church around me started to disappear, with the central aisle changing to a green path of grass. I rose to walk down it, but then I seemed to float instead. My feet seemed to belong to somebody else!
I became aware of a presence with me, and I really wanted to continue on down that path, but gradually it faded, and I found myself sitting back on the pew.
I took it as a beautiful gift, of reassurance at a difficult time, and one that I really needed. When I looked at my watch I realised half an hour had passed from when I sat down. At the time, the vision felt like just a few moments.
I eventually came out of the church, and the sunlight was so beautiful, with this dappled light under the yew trees. So I took some shots of this beautiful Cup that is sharing its life with me at the moment, and this is the result. The cup is placed on the tombstone of one of the first vicars of this church parish, dated from the 13th Century. Later, when I came home I wrote the poem, because I could not get the vision out of my mind, and to this day, I can still see it clearly.
The combination of the Cup and the beautiful light in this shot will always remind me of that wonderful vision. The Cup has a presence all of its own, and the gift of renewal is a promise that will be fulfilled when we walk along the Green Path on this Easter Day.
This work completes my Mini-Series for Easter and I would like to give my Best Wishes and love to all my friends and followers on Flickr, who have helped and supported me with such generosity and kindness, this work is for you. May Easter bring you peace, and may your God go with you. Shelley xx
*****
I have paired this work with Regina Spektor’s music track “The Call”, from the film “Prince Caspian”, an adaptation of the book from the Narnia Chronicles by C S Lewis. One day we will all hear the call to return. Please find link below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCEUpVukAe8
And if you would like to see more of my work, have a look at my website at:
UPDATE...21st April 2025.
Many are reflecting on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis today, myself included. I can only admire with wonderment a man who was obviously determined to celebrate and share the sadness and joy of Easter with everybody on this earth one more time before he had to go. And Pope Francis passed on the day after the celebrations of Christ's Resurrection, so as not to take away the importance of Christ's Sacrifice and His Return.
With this selfless act Pope Francis has shown us the deep and abiding love he had for his saviour, Jesus, and the commitment he had to bring the love and compassion of Jesus amongst us all, where he felt Christ's teachings should always be shared; everyday people, ordinary people trying to live their lives in often very difficult circumstances, and this is the legacy that His Holiness will leave; that from humble beginnings we can all make a difference.
I am sure that this morning, Pope Francis was not alone when he walked along the Green Path. His God came to collect him, and walked with him through the dappled sunshine.
All my love as always to my friends and followers, and anybody else who finds themselves on this page, seeking validation or comfort, remember you are not alone.
Shelley xx
UPDATE 25th April 2025..
Dear Friends and Followers, I don't know what has happened this week - well, I do know, I've missed most of it with an unwelcome guest of a rotten migraine. I get them from time to time, as some of you know; and as all sufferers of them know to their cost, they can be pretty wretched, which this one was. I am still recovering..so please accept my apologies for my lateness in replying to you and my usual delightful chatty insights on your work! The sense of humour is obviously returning, so I will get to you when I can!
I will hold blessings and thoughts of all of you with me until then, and tomorrow as a great man of faith is laid to rest. Whatever God you follow, go in peace my friends.
Love Shell x
The Green Path
You keep showing me the green grass
It’s the path I must follow
The colour of renewal
The one thing I will always know
Is that you shimmering beside me?
It is you but not you
But I am comforted by your presence
I know that I am not alone
I can see my feet in the grass
Moving as if to go forwards
But I don’t really need them
Just a thought propels me onwards
Your light starts to enfold me
Keeping me from any fear
I had started to wonder
If any of this was really there
Now I know it was always you
There all my life waiting so patiently
Walking down the green path
Coming forwards to collect me
*****
This work for Easter Sunday was based on a vision I had while sitting in the church of Ripe, a village in Sussex beneath the Downs near where I live. I had gone that day to take some photographs of this beautiful place, one I had visited previously in my life from time to time. As I sat in the church the light came in the East Window and lit up the church. As I gazed down to the Altar and this light the church around me started to disappear, with the central aisle changing to a green path of grass. I rose to walk down it, but then I seemed to float instead. My feet seemed to belong to somebody else!
I became aware of a presence with me, and I really wanted to continue on down that path, but gradually it faded, and I found myself sitting back on the pew.
I took it as a beautiful gift, of reassurance at a difficult time, and one that I really needed. When I looked at my watch I realised half an hour had passed from when I sat down. At the time, the vision felt like just a few moments.
I eventually came out of the church, and the sunlight was so beautiful, with this dappled light under the yew trees. So I took some shots of this beautiful Cup that is sharing its life with me at the moment, and this is the result. The cup is placed on the tombstone of one of the first vicars of this church parish, dated from the 13th Century. Later, when I came home I wrote the poem, because I could not get the vision out of my mind, and to this day, I can still see it clearly.
The combination of the Cup and the beautiful light in this shot will always remind me of that wonderful vision. The Cup has a presence all of its own, and the gift of renewal is a promise that will be fulfilled when we walk along the Green Path on this Easter Day.
This work completes my Mini-Series for Easter and I would like to give my Best Wishes and love to all my friends and followers on Flickr, who have helped and supported me with such generosity and kindness, this work is for you. May Easter bring you peace, and may your God go with you. Shelley xx
*****
I have paired this work with Regina Spektor’s music track “The Call”, from the film “Prince Caspian”, an adaptation of the book from the Narnia Chronicles by C S Lewis. One day we will all hear the call to return. Please find link below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCEUpVukAe8
And if you would like to see more of my work, have a look at my website at:
UPDATE...21st April 2025.
Many are reflecting on the death of His Holiness Pope Francis today, myself included. I can only admire with wonderment a man who was obviously determined to celebrate and share the sadness and joy of Easter with everybody on this earth one more time before he had to go. And Pope Francis passed on the day after the celebrations of Christ's Resurrection, so as not to take away the importance of Christ's Sacrifice and His Return.
With this selfless act Pope Francis has shown us the deep and abiding love he had for his saviour, Jesus, and the commitment he had to bring the love and compassion of Jesus amongst us all, where he felt Christ's teachings should always be shared; everyday people, ordinary people trying to live their lives in often very difficult circumstances, and this is the legacy that His Holiness will leave; that from humble beginnings we can all make a difference.
I am sure that this morning, Pope Francis was not alone when he walked along the Green Path. His God came to collect him, and walked with him through the dappled sunshine.
All my love as always to my friends and followers, and anybody else who finds themselves on this page, seeking validation or comfort, remember you are not alone.
Shelley xx
UPDATE 25th April 2025..
Dear Friends and Followers, I don't know what has happened this week - well, I do know, I've missed most of it with an unwelcome guest of a rotten migraine. I get them from time to time, as some of you know; and as all sufferers of them know to their cost, they can be pretty wretched, which this one was. I am still recovering..so please accept my apologies for my lateness in replying to you and my usual delightful chatty insights on your work! The sense of humour is obviously returning, so I will get to you when I can!
I will hold blessings and thoughts of all of you with me until then, and tomorrow as a great man of faith is laid to rest. Whatever God you follow, go in peace my friends.
Love Shell x