The Failed Aristocrat

A pair of ancient Yew trees guard the North door of St Edward’s Parish Church- Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswolds, England.

This 11th century church is a major attraction of the town. St Edward’s has a unique mix of different architectural styles as a result of the renovations that took place in various centuries including the 15th,17th and the 19th.

The North door (below) is said to be the inspiration for the Moria door in J.R.R.Tolkien’s ‘Lord of the Rings.’ Tolkien was known to have passed through this area prior to writing the series.

“The nuns taught us there are two ways through life, the way of Nature and the way of Grace. You have to choose which one you'll follow.

Grace doesn't try to please itself. Accepts being slighted, forgotten, disliked. Accepts insults and injuries.

Nature only wants to please itself. Get others to please it too. Likes to lord it over them. To have its own way. It finds reasons to be unhappy when all the world is shining around it. And love is smiling through all things.

They taught us that no one who loves the way of grace... ever comes to a bad end.