The Long Walk 2010

My Long Walk
Praise God! I had a really blessed time with the Lord. On the 7th itself, I walked over to Richmond (I live in Isleworth so there is a really beautiful half-hour walk through Old Isleworth, over Richmond Lock footbridge and along the Thames towpath) and did a circuit of the Tamsin Trail, which is an eight-mile walk around the circumference of Richmond Park. It was so beautiful and peaceful and the Lord blessed me with all the wildlife that I saw. Because it was a weekday, there weren't too many other people using the park so I could have plenty of time alone with the Lord. I prayed over the church I attend, Brentford Free Church.

Next day, I travelled to Coventry for a week's holiday, so I extended the Long Walk to include that week. I thoroughly explored that region. I visited Stratford and all the sights to do with Shakespeare. I rejoiced in the beauty of the town and God's grace in giving such creativity to mankind as He gave to Shakespeare. I explored Warwick, both town and castle - and came away mightily glad that I wasn't born back in the Middle Ages! I also toured the other towns and countryside round about, including Leamington Spa, Kenilworth (including castle) and, of course, Coventry itself. I found the Cathedral very moving and I shared their prayers for peace.
Claire Stanniland 07/15/2010 18:14

Replies:
Claire Stanniland 07/15/2010 18:27
Here are two very moving prayers that were displayed in Coventry Cathedral:

A Confession:

All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God.
The hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race, class from class - Father forgive.
the covetous desires of people and nations to possess what is not their own - Father forgive.
The greed which exploits the work of human hands and lays waste the Earth - Father forgive.
Our envy of the welfare and happiness of others - Father forgive.
Our indifference to the plight of the imprisoned, the homeless, the refugee - Father forgive.
The lust which dishonours the bodies of men, women and children - Father forgive.
The pride which leads us to trust in ourselves and not in God - Father forgive.

Be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you.

A Prayer of Dedication - the lines of this one were arranged round the different walls of the Cathedral, so apologies if I've missed any or read them in the wrong order:

Hallowed be Thy Name in suffering. God be in my pain and in my enduring.
Hallowed be Thy Name in the arts. God be in my senses and in my creating.
Hallowed be Thy Name in education. God be in my mind and in my growing.
Hallowed be Thy Name in commerce. God be at my desk and in my trading.
Hallowed be Thy Name in government. God be in my plans and my deciding.
Hallowed be Thy Name in the home. God be in my heart and in my loving.
Hallowed be Thy Name in recreation. God be in my limbs and in my leisure.
Hallowed be Thy Name in industry. God be in my hands and in my working.
Claire Stanniland 07/16/2010 07:32
Here are the photos.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=185587&id=588839482
Leslie 07/16/2010 09:42
Hi Claire,

Your pictures are amazing. One of the scriptures you use in your photos, Psalm 18:2-3, is one God gave me last year on the long walk. I love those verses and I was standing at the North Rim of the canyon where there is a tower. It also had scripture outside of it.

I really loved all the flowers in your pictures, and also the beautiful buildings. The Warwick Castle pictures you took are amazing and the inside of the Gaol is something with the scripture you wrote. It gave me a visual of our lives chained to sin. And the reconciliation statue is also beautiful. Oh and the confession with the cross is also beautiful, I just stopped for a moment with that photo...

I think I need to plan a trip there. :) Thank you so much for sharing all of the photos and your thoughts. It all went together so well and I felt like I did another long walk with you!

Blessings, Leslie