Cyril the Lemming

The Speaker at the Hall gave us two memorable illustrations, one being Cyril the Lemming.   He described a cartoon showing the (now discredited, I think) picture of a whole herd of lemmings throwing themselves over a steep cliff. One, though, has stopped right at the edge, and is looking thoughtfully around. The caption read:  "This was when Cyril realised he was different from the other lemmings."

For the second illustration, the Speaker reminded us of the windmill gnomes that used to be on (some) peoples' front lawns. The little gnome held a windmill, and at times it would look as if his arms would turn vigorously so that he would appear to be twirling the windmill.  Of course, it was the wind turning the windmill, which then turned the arms.  He was at the mercy of every wind that blew.

The point of the illustrations is of course to remind us not to be at the mercy of every wind that blows; to be different from "the world" - and not to head right over the cliff with the crowd. So it means trusting in Jehovah with all our heart, keeping on learning his law, and sticking with it.  And swimming upstream, against the current, to the end of our lives, or to the end of this system of things - whichever comes first.
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We were also reminded of how lovely the world is, how wonderful the creation is, when we read these words from Job, when Jehovah asks:

"Where did you happen to be when I founded the earth?
Tell [me], if you do know understanding.
Who set its measurements, in case you know,
Or who stretched out upon it the measuring line?
Into what have its socket pedestals been sunk down,
Or who laid its cornerstone,
 When the morning stars joyfully cried out together,
And all the sons of God began shouting in applause?"

And of course, this, from Psalm 19:

"The heavens are declaring the glory of God;
And of the work of his hands the expanse is telling.
One day after another day causes speech to bubble forth,
And one night after another night shows forth knowledge.
There is no speech, and there are no words;
No voice on their part is being heard."

Without words, the creation tells us every day and every night of the qualities of its Grand Creator.

There was another rainbow today - we have had a cold but sunny morning, followed by intermittent rain - and wonderful big waves on the Channel.

I spent most of yesterday struggling away trying to do my talk for the Ministry School.  I don't have to deliver it till next week, but my householder, needed to see it today. Its far from brilliant, but its a subject that I think would be easier to address in a public talk, rather than a five minute dialogue.

A flock of butterfly memberships came through the letterbox yesterday, so that is Monday taken care of.