It’s not enough to know we’re in an ecological crisis. You have to feel it. It’s a question of the story you tell yourself about who you are. It’s a question of meaning and of spirituality – a question of being who you are in relation to all the life (human and otherwise) that is.Continue reading “Spirituality in an Ecological Crisis”
Tag Archives: connection
Who am I?
I would consider myself to be both a patriot and an internationalist. I love the English countryside and some of our great cities and I cheer for England on the rare occasions that I watch international sport. But I also find other cultures fascinating. I’ve enjoyed travelling in other countries and experiencing different food andContinue reading “Who am I?”
Living in the woods
I’m just back from a short week in a cabin in a small wood in Devon. It’s part of the wonderful Sheldon retreat centre (Society of Mary and Martha) where I’ve been for luxurious retreats in the past and where we go annually for a clergy family holiday. The cabin is pretty basic, although itContinue reading “Living in the woods”
Planes, trains …
At the end of August, Mrs Mabbsonsea and I celebrated 25 years of marriage with a short trip to Berlin. We first met there in 1989, spending two weeks on the same volunteer team. It was just three months before the Berlin Wall fell in November that year and we have wanted to re-visit forContinue reading “Planes, trains …”
At one with nature at any price
Yesterday I set out on a hike from home, over the Downs, to a campsite in the woods about 12 miles away. It was always going to be quite a challenge as I haven’t walked that far with a big pack since my legs were younger, but I liked the idea of doing the roundContinue reading “At one with nature at any price”
Dartmoor
I spent a few days on Dartmoor, camping in a small oak wood up the valley of the River Erme. Piles Copse is an ancient woodland, once part of a farmstead. It’s a beautiful and peaceful place, ascending from the river up into dark, impenetrable, boulder-strewn woodland, filled with oaks so old they have beards.Continue reading “Dartmoor”
Identity
I have been doing a bushcraft course, with the assessment weekend coming up fast. One aspect of the course is natural history. We have had to learn to identify trees and woodland plants, as well as animal tracks and signs. Out and about in parks and in the countryside these past six weeks, armed withContinue reading “Identity”
whyPhone?
In my talk to a group of international post-grad students, there was a section about consumerism in relation to climate change. I critiqued our addiction to more stuff and to the latest thing and advocated a simple life that used less of the earth’s resources. At the end, I invited questions. The first question was,Continue reading “whyPhone?”
Along life’s cycle-path, remember to stop and smell the sea
My daily ride to work has to be one of the best, if not the best commuter routes in the world. The sea looks different every time. Even on dull, damp, autumn mornings, it’s something worth looking at. It’s so easy to rush by it. I may be late for an appointment. There’s stuff toContinue reading “Along life’s cycle-path, remember to stop and smell the sea”
Front Gardening
This is only the second front garden I’ve had. In the last house, the back was so large I just kept the front as lawn. Here, though, the back is small and quite shaded; also I want to leave enough space out there so that the tent can be put up to dry if weContinue reading “Front Gardening”
Alex Mabbs 