Crushed like diamonds

I understand that diamonds are formed through immense heat and pressure crushing carbon materials which results in something incredibly beautiful out of all that heat and pressure.

If we were to look closely at one another's lives then I'm sure we would see little glints of mini diamonds or at least tiny flecks of diamonds from past struggles.

The past year has been in many respects the most difficult me and my family have ever had to go through. And yet deep down I feel a certain peace radiating. It's not the temporary peace that would be afforded from solutions to life's problems because generally life has a whole stack of other problems around the corner for us. This peace seems to be saying to me it's OK, life is difficult but you are safe I'll be with you. Maybe just maybe I am starting to understand, to grasp the truth and reality of Jesus' words "my peace I give you".

Gibberd Garden

Recently my family and I visited the Gibberd Garden in Harlow.

Sir Frederick Gibberd produced a wide variety of architectural and landscaping projects, including Heathrow Airport, Liverpool Catholic Cathedral, Regent's Park Central Mosque and the landscape design of the Kielder Reservoir and in 1946 he was appointed master-planner for Harlow New Town. From the 1950s he started to develop this garden.

It is a wonderful garden, a great mixture of planned and eclectic jumbled up spaces full of sculptures and objects which Gibberd loved so much.

Although I have been to the garden several times there are still things to discover, sculptures I haven't really looked at before, views and spaces I haven't noticed.

The other thing this garden gives me is that sense of hidden peace. You can get the feeling of being hidden away, for a few moments you are in another world. This hidden world is full of quiet wonder and the reflected glory of creation both of nature and the hands of men and women.

It is a real oasis on our doorstep, I encourage you to check it out.