Excerpts from 'Quietly Sitting'  by Elinor Jones

Silent Prayer

The country church bestows its peace
As often little churches do
And visitors from far and near
Find respite as they 'take a pew';
They come to lay aside all care,
To rest awhile in silent prayer.

In peaceful yard no sound is beard
As gravestones mark life's shortest span,
And wisest thought cannot prolong
The length of days as given to man;
It's folly to deny God's care,
So come to Him in silent prayer.

When turning to the world again
Let not its rush dictate your pace
But rather let your thoughts return
To God and to this peaceful place;
Cast all into the Master's care,
Who answers every silent prayer.

'Be still and know that 1 am God.'
                         Psalm 46:10

(St Just in Roseland)

Skyward

Blankets of purple thrown over the hills
Sun-kissed the loch down below
Stony the pathway that leads to the top
Yet onward and upward I go

Up where the silence erases all strain
My thoughts are unfettered and free
Nothing disturbing my innermost self
And peace lays her stillness on me

Reactions

Retaliation, the natural instinct
when wronged, when hurt.
Retaliation, a sweet revenge
For hatred, for violence
And all the lesser wrongs of ... 
bitter words, unkind gossip,
twisted truth, unkept promises.

Retaliation, fleeting rough justice
To ease the pain
To settle the account.

Forgiveness, the unnatural reaction
When wronged, when hurt.
Forgiveness, a sweet response
To quell hate's flow
To calm the strife
To stem all bitterness
Refining Nature's sway ... 
In ways of peace
In ways of care
In ways of love
In ways of God.

Forgiveness, undeserved love,
Easing the pain
Settling the account.  

Copies of 'Quietly Sitting' are available at £3 (post free).
Cheques payable to Elinor Jones