Today we laid mum to rest in with my Dad, in a beautiful cememtry in Sevenoaks. The sky was blue, the breeze soft and we began by listening to My Cathedral by Jim Reeves, (mum's choice, link to youtube version below). Well, that finished me off, before we'd even started. Today we didn't recall much... Continue Reading →
How can we believe in God at a time like this?
A video version of my answer - for those who prefer to watch... text underneath, if you prefer to read. https://youtu.be/-5OjQahLNRg You may have noticed that we (along with many others) are doing an awful lot of praying, our daily prayers are being posted up on our Facebook page and hopefully will also be on... Continue Reading →
‘Dead’, ‘bitter’ or ‘better’ – Three ways in which we will come through this crisis.
'All things pass' said Teresa of Avila. This too will pass. There are three ways in which we can emerge. We have some measure of control over the first way (but not a lot) but we have a bigger measure of control over the second two possible outcomes and that is why I'm writing this... Continue Reading →
Seeing something BIG in something very small
Seeing something big in something very small is sometimes known as 'catastrophising' - I think this word now exists. And catastrophising is bad, not a helpful habit for your mental well-being. It is literally a case of getting things out of perspective. But I'm talking about a positive ability to see something good and something... Continue Reading →
Be afraid… be very afraid…
Okay so this might not sound too seasonally cheerful... but I've been thinking about the Christmas stories and how in so many encounters in these stories, the participants are told "do not be afraid". But there is one story in which the chief participant, Mary, might well have expected to hear those words and they... Continue Reading →
Ten reflections from travels in the Lake District and Scotland
Travel Light. You need much less than you think. Alternatives can always be found for those things you deem so necessary. For example, the swimming costume I sent home on the morning of the afternoon I finally had a chance to go wild swimming. It turns out that swimming in your undies works perfectly well. Nobody was there... Continue Reading →
Finding Jesus in the gloom and uncertainty
This wonderful Easter reflection (used with permission) is by my friend Wendy Bray, a priest and author who lives with terminal cancer. She is also quoting Debie Thomas For anyone who finds Easter hard because it seems to be all about sunshine and brightness and life -all-sorted, this might be helpful for you. Happy Easter. (... Continue Reading →
God: No T’s and C’s?
I’m not sure if that title is entirely theologically correct and I’m happy to engage in conversation with anyone who disagrees with me. It was prompted by a typo in a caption my friend gave to a photo of his boys dressed as waiters. They had just made their mum Sunday lunch for Mother’s Day... Continue Reading →
This is Who I’m talking about…
A 14-year-old boy called Walker whose heart is breaking prays and the next day Jesus turns up in his bedroom, long flowing robes, sandals and all. This short story/poem is absolutely amazing. The Jesus we meet is the Jesus I'd like everyone to meet. I often ask people to read one of the gospels to... Continue Reading →
‘Vesper Sky’ Poetry and Song CD Recommendation
What a joy to come across this is utterly wonderful CD of 20 recordings: some are songs, some are poems, with and without music in the background, some are funny ('Perfect Fit' and 'Somewhere in the Library'), some are heart-breakingly sad ('Breakages') but all of them have hope and all of them are clever and... Continue Reading →