Canute, and the Woodbridge Hands

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I thought I knew about Canute… the 11th century king who sat on the seashore on his throne, crown on his head, commanding the tide to stop. Canute got wet and looked foolish…

…Apparently the actual legend is that Canute’s seashore exercise was to persuade his flattering courtiers that he wasn’t omnipotent. He knew the tide wouldn’t obey him; he wasn’t surprised that his feet got wet; there was a power greater than him.

Last night we met with a group of friends… chatting about personal concerns. One friend has just had vascular dementia diagnosed; another has a sister with an aggressive brain tumour…

Life’s tough for their families. They’re waiting for doctors to make diagnoses and decisions… hoping and praying for healing… slowing down inevitable deterioration… facing future uncertainty…

We prayed – for God’s strength to face whatever their future holds… for God’s peace in all that would bring fear and anxiety… for faith to continue trusting God whatever… for a discovery of hope amongst the uncertainty…

I’m increasingly persuaded that prayer is not telling God what I think he ought to do… rather I’m putting my insecurities and uncertainties into God’s hands.

Woodbridge Quay Church (35 miles South of us), commissioned a piece of art work… Rick Kirby created this sculpture… a pair of hands, with the inscription ‘I hold and am held’.

Their church website shows children, families, couples sitting in ‘The Hands’… Perhaps that’s what we were doing last night with our prayers… putting our friends into God’s strong, immovable hands…

The Canute legend ends with the wet-footed king saying: ‘Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.’

Canute hung his gold crown on a crucifix, and never wore it again ‘to the honour of God the almighty King’.

I think Canute knew something of God’s powerful hands. I pray that my friends do too.

8 thoughts on “Canute, and the Woodbridge Hands”

  1. This is absolutely beautiful. It’s so exquisitely written. Those hands are amazing (the picture is precious)! Like you, I pray others find strength in letting go of theirs, to hold on, sit in, and allow God to hold them in HIS mighty hands. A trip to the oncologist yesterday~platelets at 30, counts too low, a fracture in my lower back. From over two decades teaching, hiking, exploring, soaking up history, raising kids…through it all, I’ve been HELD (have you heard that song 🎶)? Today I’ll go back for infusion. With that, I’m “infused” with faith!! God bless you as we continue to hold on to our Father as HE holds us!

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  2. Thanks Karla. I’ve just listened to ‘Held’ – it sums it up beautifully. Acceptance and trust are gifts that aren’t always easy to accept… but taking one step at a time we walk with our Father-God.

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  4. I know it is me and songs again !! Father I place into Your Hands, and all that follows in the next lines and verses, came to mind.

    Thinking about it, could we ask for much more than to be in our Father’s Hands ?

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  5. Absolutely, Keith! I’d thought of ‘Father I place into your hands’ with you; I’d also thought of the song we used to sing ‘Safe in the Father’s hands’.
    And you’re right – there isn’t anywhere better!

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