‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ John 1:5 It’s been a long year. I know that, technically, we’ve had the usual 52 weeks, plus that extra day for a Leap year – as if we hadn’t had enough of 2020 with the standard 365 this year! And now … More Overcoming Darkness
My eldest sister is poised to become a grandparent. It also means that the dynamics of the family shift a little as we all move up a generation – if you see what I mean – and that’s a milestone we’d be foolish to ignore. It inevitably puts me in mind of all things grand-parenty … More The Circle of Life
‘The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures‘. Psalm 23:1-2 My mental wiring shows that I am an achiever by nature and preference. That means (among other things), that I become frustrated and unsettled during times when I get to the end of the day and feel I have … More He MAKES me lie down…
‘If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.’ – Martin Luther King Jr Somewhere around 1972, my Dad won a national camping competition promoted on the back of a cornflake packet. This proved a number … More Moving On
‘ Our people die well’ – John Wesley (1703-1791) The past few months have given us all a great deal more time and space to think and reflect. If you’ve now read War & Peace, congratulations. If you’ve joined the throng mastering Banana Bread, well done. If you managed to blitz your loft, the garage, … More A Hundred Ways to Die
Nourish your hopes, but do not overlook realities.- Winston Churchill Hats off to the magazine editor who approved one of the most striking images I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t just the classic lines of an old brass and iron bed, or the pristine white linen sheets and counterpane; plump pillows with their Oxford pillowcases standing … More Hope Amongst the Bluebells
‘Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ Revelation 2:7 I’ve spent almost 3 weeks in isolation in Cape Town under some of the strictest rules any nation has yet issued. The photograph above is a copy of the government guidelines – a free insert in the local paper. Here … More My Corona
‘We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God.’ – Dietrich Bonhoeffer (German theologian) It was not the highpoint of my week to discover this piece of information from British Airways less than 48 hours before I was due at the airport. My irritation was exacerbated by having received confirmation of both … More Plans Interrupted
Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race – William E Gladstone – four times British Prime Minister Is it ironic that the slogan for the Corona lager’s 2020 advertising campaign is, ‘Coming Ashore Soon’? It’s unfortunate similarity – in name only – to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is starting to sound more like a … More Peace in the Pestilence
‘Responsibility walks hand in hand with capacity and power.’ Josiah Gilbert Holland – American novelist & poet There are currently 885 litter bins in and around Bath, not including the ones in parks and open spaces, or so the website assures me. For your edification I can tell you that each is identified – should … More Bins Beyond My Borders
