I am, it has to be said, somewhat intolerant of those who take a ‘we’ve always done it that way’ approach to new ideas or changes. And, I admit, impatient when, ‘we tried that, and it didn’t work’ is used as a response. That said, I am a firm believer Read more…
There’s been a falling out – but I never was good at keeping friends. The visitor is outstaying their welcome. Not that they were welcome in the first place, but you know what I mean (if you don’t, you may like to read the previous post). The situation isn’t any Read more…
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…
Under pressure? Want somebody to love? Or just to ride your bicycle? Recently, I went to see Queen with Adam Lambert. A presence in the music industry for over five decades, most of Queen’s songs are over 30 years old – and yes, I knew every single one of them. Read more…
A Summer sunny afternoon needed a ‘thinking walk’, as Winnie the Pooh called them. To be honest though, it was more of a ‘ranting walk’. As our churches emerged from the intensity of the pandemic restrictions, the criticisers and complainers had gone back to normal too. Whether lay or ordained Read more…
A few days ago, my wife, who (unlike her husband) is often prone to outbursts of excitement, came rushing in saying, ‘Richard, there’s a message on the answerphone from the Dean of Southwark Cathedral! They’ve been using Life with St Benedict in their online Night Prayer and he wants to Read more…
‘The virus has robbed us of many things. It continues to rob us of any certainty.’ In many ways, those words by BBC correspondent, Chris Mason sum up these last few months. Our local churches have begun opening for public worship for the first time since March. Many might have Read more…
‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’ Those haunting words cried out by Jesus as he hung from the cross reflect a common human experience. Within the desolation, lie two unanswered questions, ‘Where are you, God?’ and ‘Why has this happened?’. For centuries, or indeed, millennia, people have Read more…
Well, dear reader, it’s been quite a fortnight since the last blog post. Having supervised her two charges through their ecclesiastical removal, Pip peacefully moved on to her heavenly kennel. (Yes, there will be dogs in heaven – after all, dog is God spelt backwards…). Her loss is huge both Read more…