Second on the right....

J.M. Barrie, author of Peter Pan, was born here in Kirriemuir. The wee red toun of Kirrie is full of reminders of the boy who never grew up. I came across this bench up at the Neverland Play Park. It reads, 'Second to the right' said Peter 'and then straight on till morning'. These are the directions that Peter gives to Wendy for Neverland. 

We may all need help with direction in our lives at different times.   Often talking to wise friends, praying or reflecting on God's word can give us the clarity we need to move forward. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you".

All roads lead to Rome

The saying goes 'all roads lead to Rome'. And here is proof. I left Kirriemuir, Angus, Scotland, the birthplace of J.M. Barrie, author of 'Peter Pan' to go on holiday in Rome. Walking down the streets of Rome I was passed by this bus .... Peter Pan too had followed the road to Rome!

Having taken the photo I was then left wondering - why had it appealed to me so much? I think it is to do with connections. I have a very strong bias for being connected to my roots. Whether that is digging around my family history or returning to places of my childhood or youth - I have a strong sense of belonging to people and places. Seeing Peter Pan in a far flung country drew me back to my adopted town of Kirriemuir. A feeling of familiarity and relatedness. It was a good feeling.

I had the same feeling on Sunday when I attended the Church of Scotland service in Rome. The week had been full of new experiences:- wandering among the ancient treasures of Rome, looking in wonder at the incredible artwork in the Vatican museum and standing in awe under the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. But, coming into the Church of Scotland building with all its' simplicity and worshipping in such a familiar way, I felt again that sense of belonging and relatedness. It was too a good feeling.

Scottish fiddlers in town

 

                      The Angus Strathspey and Reel Society

What a morning! The Angus Strathspey and Reel Society band came to Kirriemuir Old Parish Church. It was part of our annual music festival in town - the TMSA (Traditional Music & Song Association). The band came to play the music for our hymns at our 11.15am service. All the tunes were Scottish ones and each hymn offered us both praise and reflection. The one below is called 'Names they called him'. Each verse takes us through a time in Jesus' own journey. We travel from the manger, to his carpentry days, then onto his ministry and through to his persecution, his death on the cross then finally his resurrection and what it means for us. Hear the fiddles playing, hum the tune and join in with us in our journey of praise.

Hymn: Names they called him
Tune: Bonnie Lass o’ Fyvie’

We proudly sing of how a King

Forfeited fame and security:

Born and brought up unknown,

A manger for his throne,

And they called him a victim of obscurity.

In faith he grew, in wisdom too,

Learning and loving with every breath;

He served his time and trade,

As furniture he made,

And they called him the carpenter of Nazareth.

Twelve friends he called were soon involved

Sharing his mission to shire and slum;

He healed the sick and sad,

He helped the poor and mad,

And they called him the man who made the kingdom come.

For doing good, for where he stood,

Rumours were spread with the worst intent;

His critics, unimpressed,

Disparaged those he blessed,

And they called him a threat to the establishment.

Cruel and detached, a plot they hatched,

Leading to death on the gallows tree;

Those who his grace had seen

Refused to intervene,

And they called him the dross of all humanity.

And yet we sing – this is the king

Who neither death nor deceit can kill.

By rising to forgive,

He sets us free to live

And he calls us to be his friends and followers still.