Mirror, signal, manoeuvre

A few months ago, my daughter passed her driving test. First time. A proud Dad moment. One of the basic rules for any driver is mirror, signal, manoeuvre – or MSM. And yet, if we give the benefit of the doubt on the first, it often seems that many don’t Read more…

No words for love

‘Mindful of what you feel, look at Rembrandt’s masterful depiction of the parable… Give your attention to how the light falls on the scene. Record all that you observe about the light. Stay with it… what do you hear when you listen and what is the light in the painting Read more…

Any love to spare?

There once was a man who had two sons. The elder one was in line to take over the family business. The younger, disillusioned with his lot, went off to a distant land. Sibling rivalry is nothing new, of course. Neither is parental estrangement or the presence of family conflicts. Read more…

Light & Dark

The first chapter of John’s Gospel is one of those quintessential readings we hear at this time of year. Traditionally, the last one read at a service of lessons and carols, it takes a different approach to other readings about the events leading up to and surrounding Jesus’ birth. It Read more…

The cost of energy

A friend has come to stay. We first met in 1988 when they wrecked my life. Since then, we’ve met just once, a few years ago. So it was a surprise to meet them again, if I’m honest. But there again, given what happened, perhaps it wasn’t. The very first Read more…

A matter of life

‘I matter therefore I am.’ One of the highlights of the recent short sabbatical was being in Salisbury to hear and meet Luigi Gioia, former Roman Catholic Benedictine monk turned Anglican priest. In a wonderfully stimulating study day, Luigi talked about how Benedictine spirituality is still very relevant. (He even Read more…

Given for you

The local vicar is on a short sabbatical this month. Well-deserved and well-needed. A very generous gift from the Church of England after she carried our six churches through the pandemic and a year-long wait for a new full-time colleague all at the same time. One of the nice things Read more…