A Reflection for the Month - August-September 2026 

Dear Friends,
Over recent weeks, the news has been full of stories about the dangers — especially for children — of spending hours glued to social media, now to be banned for under sixteens. Adults, too, have found themselves under scrutiny: not only for their own dependence on screens, but for the unsettling realisation that many feel genuinely unable to wean themselves off the constant compulsion to check and scroll.

One radio discussion particularly struck me. It turned the whole issue on its head by asking what we are missing when our noses are pressed to a screen — the changing seasons, the colours around us, the sky above, the quiet insistence of nature calling out to be noticed. How desperately sad that so many of us have drifted into this way of living.

At our recent Church Mice session, despite the intense heat, we spent a lovely morning with Ducklings Class from Debden Primary School and were joined by insect specialist Fiona Hutchings from Wimbish. Together we helped the children search deep into the hedgerows and grass to discover the hidden world of bugs. Fiona used an upturned umbrella to shake insects from the bushes so the children could see them — and what a collection it was. They were mesmerised.

It was a joy to watch five year olds concentrate so patiently, peering closely at the life beneath their feet in the small patches of grass that we adults stride across without a second thought. Their enthusiasm was infectious. Encouraging children at this age to appreciate the created world that lies just a heartbeat away truly pays dividends. Who knows — perhaps one of them will become the next generation’s Chris Packham.

One of my favourite poems, Leisure by the Welsh poet W. H. Davies, captures this beautifully in its opening lines:

    What is this life if, full of care,
    We have no time to stand and stare.
    No time to stand beneath the boughs
    And stare as long as sheep or cows.

This poem has featured twice in our recent afternoon services in both Debden and Wimbish — and little wonder. It has the power to stop us in our tracks and make us think. Davies, who lived a turbulent life and travelled widely as a vagrant in both the UK and the USA, had an extraordinary gift for observing nature with a sharp, perceptive eye. Through his words he articulated the beauty of God’s creation with rare clarity.

It is all too easy to take for granted the beauty of where we live: to trample past the ecosystem beneath the turf, to overlook the wonders of the heavens, to let birdsong fade into the background as we automatically turn on the TV or radio. And yet it is all there, waiting.

After our session, the children returned to their classroom brimming with stories to share with their families, teachers and friends. No phones, no screens — just the natural world inviting them to stop and stare. May I encourage you to do the same. It costs nothing, and yet it means the world.

With Blessings, Rev’d Lynda Sebbage, Debden Rectory