Warwickshire's Waterways

I came down to the Midlands on Monday afternoon. Despite a trying journey in the aftermath of the weekend’s storm (for which Avanti West Coast will refund the ticket), I spent a most pleasant time walking from Royal Leamington Spa to Warwick along the Rivers Leam and Avon. A short stretch of the Grand Union Canal also provided the path, affording an aerial view of the Avon (above). Despite the weekend’s bluster (the recording of Salem Chapel’s morning service frequently includes the whistling of the wind) the day was bright with sunshine from a deep blue sky. Wearing my duffle coat was an error of judgement; it was carried most of the way. Despite this slightly annoying burden, my walk was rather marvellous, though I caught the omnibus home.

The Leam derives from the Old English Lemana, meaning "elm-tree river" whereas Avon derives from the Brittonic “abona”, which simply means "river". The Grand Union was a coming together of several canals between London and Birmingham between 1890 and 1930, and, while neither natural nor ancient, is now just as great a part of our national waterways and Warwickshire’s splendour.

In scripture, significant things often happen by rivers, including the judgement on the Nile in Exodus and the Hebrews’ crossing of the Jordan; it was by the rivers of Babylon that the exiled Jews remembered Zion, and the NIV locates some of Daniel's visions to canals. The New Testament, too, attributes importance to waterways, especially in John’s ministry, Lydia’s conversion and the bound angels of the Euphrates. I cannot say that anything remarkable happened to me during that pleasant walk, but it did me good to be in a new place and enjoying God’s green England. The irritations of cancelled, cramped and delayed trains were blown away by the riparian zephyrs, the sunwashed landscapes well rewarding the eyes. Okay, so this might be pop pyschology rather than deep theology, but getting out and about does us all much good. Before the weather turns nasty (or nastier), allow nature to refresh you and remind you of the Creator's glory. Go and find a river, and walk by it. 

I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. Isaiah 41:18

A D