It has been a busy week: visits from our new MP, Hamish Falconer, invitations to contribute to BBC Radio Lincolnshire's Sunday morning programme tomorrow to talk about our 'Wild' Prayer on 21^st July and  solar panels fitted to the vicarage roof.  Our 'meadow' is looking fabulous at this time of year.  In late June and early July, it is full of colour and variety. 

This weekend marks the beginning of the Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count Home page | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)  The meadow is buzzing with insects at the moment including different varieties of bees.  We are encouraged to get out into nature for our wellbeing and mental health.  Being mindful means being fully present in the moment - not letting worries and concerns crowd our thoughts.  Standing amongst our wildflowers and grasses, listening and paying attention to the little creatures that are sharing our space stops us for a few minutes from allowing those unwanted thoughts to intrude into our consciousness. 

Paying attention to the wonder of creation is a kind of prayer.  Noticing what God has done and is doing and being grateful is prayer.  People sometimes ask me how to pray, they say they're not sure of the words to use of where to begin.  Well, sometimes prayers don't need words, just like relationships with people don't.  Sometimes, we just need to be fully present.   Counting butterflies for fifteen minutes this week means that you will need to be fully present to God and what God has done, to notice the creatures and pay attention to them.  If you're not sure about butterflies, chose some other thing to commit yourself to for fifteen minutes this week - listening to the birds, baking, swimming, looking through some old photographs.  What ever it is, don't worry about the words, just notice and be thankful.