By Mrs Rachel Chamness, Clerk to the Okehampton Society of Friends

Wonder and adore creation

THE bungalow I live in faces a clear view of Dartmoor four miles to the east. This enables me to enjoy the sunrise – that is, when we do get sun!

A few mornings ago, I realised how far is the point where the sun rises over the horizon now, from the Tor, behind which the sun gleamed weakly at dawn in December.

Sunrises and sunsets have a special meaning for me, almost like a 'window' into heaven.

March 29th was the Spring Equinox – equal days and nights, halfway between the Winter Solstice (the shortest day) and the Summer Solstice (the longest day). These times were noted by the ancient people of these islands; they respected the earth and creation.

A quarter of 2013 has gone already, so it is no wonder the sun has now moved so much from the point where it rose in the depth of winter.

This is an exciting time of year with the birth of the baby animals — foals on Dartmoor, baby calves and lambs in the fields, frisking in warm sunshine.

Watching the lambs at play reminds me of William Blake's poem, The Lamb. In this he asks: 'Little Lamb, who made thee? Dost thou know who made thee?'

Blake further says: 'I a child and thou a lamb, we are called by His name.'

The bible also refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

Let us pause to wonder and adore God's creation. That lamb's woolly coat is made up of fibres with tiny scales which trap the air and make ideal clothing for us too in the English climate.

Recently, I saw some pictures of babies in Scandinavia out in their prams in sub-zero temperatures. They were warmly wrapped, with wool next to them making use of creation's gifts.