Norfolk is the driest county in England- but still has a lot of water - with seven main rivers[ Ant, Bure, Chet, Thurne, Waveney and Wensum] plus the lovely Norfolk Broads, and a very long coastline, from Kings Lynn and the Wash, all the way round to Yarmouth.
On Friday morning, as I drove to the Hospital for my Volunteer Visiting Session, I switched on the Radio. The programme was 'Soul Music' which features each week a different piece of music which has special memories for people. It is usually classical, or pop - but this week it was a hymn tune. They were playing The Lord's My Shepherd, to the Scottish tune "Crimond". This is my favourite setting of Psalm 23. I was singing along in the car "He leadeth me, the quiet waters by" and reflecting on the quiet waters at Taverham. I was grateful to God for the peaceful moments. But then I was grateful too for the availability of fresh clean water - so many people across the globe walk miles to collect their water, and so often it is filthy, and carries disease.
Here in Norfolk. because it is so flat, there are problems with water pressure - so we have lots of water towers across the county. Old redbrick Victorian ones, and at the end of the 20th century more modern concrete ones. Often they stand out on the landscape and can be seen for miles. Many of them are now listed, converted into 'dwellings'. Just down the road from the hospital, Dereham's old tower stands right alongside the 1960's "mushroom" at the highest point in the town.
I have no idea what the three men in pink hi-viz vests were doing. I couldn't have worked so high up there. I am grateful that our water supplies are being maintained. And truly grateful for the living water that Jesus gives us, reviving our souls [John chapter 4:10 and 7:37] Psalm 23 - He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
The Chet Valley singers have put up so many lovely hymn videos on YouTube, such a gift to us all. Fresh water, hot water even, out of a tap whenever we want, is such a privilege. I used to work in a water authority lab, testing the purity of our drinking water. (And also testing the contamination levels of 'dirty' water!)
ReplyDeleteMany of us appreciated their singing during lockdown
DeleteGosh, hearing Crimond took me back over sixty years when I used to sing with a youth choir. We had a Welsh choirmaster and always closed our practice meetings with Crimond. Hope to be in Norfolk in a few weeks time on a short break.
ReplyDeleteI hope the weather holds for you, it is lovely here today. Are you going to the coast, the Broads, or the City?
DeleteI also like The Lord’s my shepherd sung to Brother James’ Air. Catriona
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely tune
DeleteAnd the Yare.
ReplyDeleteOops, my error - I said 7 and only listed 6! Thanks for pointing it out!
DeleteIt is certainly a blessing to have clean water. Thank you for sharing the lovely hymn. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is a beautiful hymn
DeleteLovely to read this, TQ
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
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DeleteWe will be singing "The Lord is my shepherd" today, Good Shepherd Sunday, as well as "The King of Love my Shepherd is", and the 23rd psalm will be sung by a cantor. There may be a little baa-ing in the pews!
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DeleteThank you for posting the hymn, it really lifted my spirits this morning. JanF
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad
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