Blue angel II

In a remote corner of the Lemurian Abbey gardens there are some ruins, ruins of a folly built many years ago in the form a grotto whose walls are lined with seashells. A statue of Neptune holds sway in these subterranean passages. Beyond the arches leading to this homage to someone's creativity, the gardens extend in a sweeping vista towards the main buildings. But they are a long way away. A profusion of wild flowers has draped itself over the old stonework and it will not be too long before the entrance is completely hidden. On the top of the grassy knoll above the grotto there is further evidence of the eccentricity of its builder in the form of a Japanese tower, from the top of which you can see beyond the walls of the abbey to the full extent of Lemuria.

It is to this temple of the imagination that the blue angel comes from time to time to sit in quiet absorption and to re-charge her batteries. She hasn't been here for awhile, things had been quiet in the abbey but she had recently become aware that all was not well in its hallowed halls. Something was troubling the abbess, that she knew.

So she sat in quiet contemplation, listening.

First of all, the lizards sunning themselves in the rocky crevices told her that the abbess was sad. The breezes whispering through the grasses told of Darryl's illness. The blue harebells tinkled a chime of frustration and uncertainty. The leaves of the gingko trees chanted the prayers that they heard offered up by some of the abbey dwellers for Heather and Darryl and in doing so, spread the word so that the prayers were passed from mouth to mouth and ear to ear and began to form a huge groundswell of solicitation, succour and entreaty that all would be well.

As the angel gazed out over the gardens she made a mental note to ask the gardener to plant some more of the syringa bushes which wafted such a heavenly smell through the gardens. From her stony perch, at the same time however, she was sending out waves of healing energy. Although the abbess was her prime target she was aware that others were suffering in their own ways too and she prayed quietly for those as well and the words of the hymn for those in peril on the sea came to her mind for those in the abbey were suffering on the sea of life and were being battered by the winds and tides of misfortune.

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walked'st on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.

May the balm that the angel carries soothe the weary spirits of the abbey dwellers and bring them renewed vigour.