I watched a Ted talk by Satish Kumar, in which he contrasted tourists and pilgrims. He said that tourists always complain, but pilgrims always celebrate. As a race we’ve lived like tourists on the earth, but Kumar’s challenge is to become pilgrims. Having recently been a tourist in every sense of the word, I likeContinue reading “Tourists or Pilgrims?”
Tag Archives: spirituality
Climate Week
Here’s a contribution to Climate Week – yesterday’s sermon. Apologies to those of you who don’t like sermons. At least with a blog sermon, you can argue with the preacher in public. The readings are: Isaiah 55.1-13 and Luke 13.1-9 The readings today hinge on whether or not we can have hope. For the JewishContinue reading “Climate Week”
Alex’s Energy Saving Tips
These are tiny drops in the ocean. But seeing TV pictures of the flooding in Queensland the other night, and the warnings of yet more flooding here in the UK, makes me feel we all need to pull together to counter the madness of growth-addicted, consumer culture. It’s all feeling rather apocalyptic, and I’d hopedContinue reading “Alex’s Energy Saving Tips”
Candlemas
A couple of weeks ago, I was on a course in Salisbury and went to choral evensong at the cathedral (which is one of my favourite cathedrals). One evening, the girls’ choir sang as an anthem Dorothy Parker’s poem, Prayer For A New Mother, set to music by Richard Shephard. I found it very moving.Continue reading “Candlemas”
Nature on ice
Today, Mrs Mabbsonsea and I said a scornful ‘Hah!’ to what passes for snow and ice in this part of the world and headed up country. I dropped her off at a quilt show, then went next door to Wakehurst Place, which is Kew Gardens in the countryside. It’s a beautiful place at any time,Continue reading “Nature on ice”
The light shines in the darkness
“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (St John 1.5 (New International Version)) I’m not sure if this should be a Christmas or an Advent sonnet. You decide! The earth was dark, and dark misunderstood the fragile point of light that pricked its veil. These wise men, strongContinue reading “The light shines in the darkness”
Hermitage
There’s a shed at the bottom of the garden. It was full of tools, toys and sheddy clutter. You can see that it’s not the best use of a fairly large space. So I’ve put in a stud partition (using my hand drill! (see previous post)) and turned it into two rooms. To begin with,Continue reading “Hermitage”
The Call of the Woods
I’ve been neglecting my blog. Just to keep it going, here’s a haiku from a less busy time. field soaring upwards and beyond the pathless gate the beckoning wood (The photo doesn’t fit the poem – it’s different woods – but, hey, it’s woods.)
Mud People
While on holiday recently, I read Ursula Le Guin’s story, “The Word For World Is Forest”. As always with Le Guin, it’s superb, imaginative, thoughtful writing. The story is set on a distant world, Athshe, which humans from Earth are trying to colonise. In many ways, the planet has similar conditions to Earth, theContinue reading “Mud People”
Plaster Saint
At the end of June, I spent a lovely week on retreat at Sheldon. As usual, it was great to be on my own with no one else’s schedule or demands to worry about. I could eat when I was hungry and sleep when I was tired (which was most of the first dayContinue reading “Plaster Saint”
Alex Mabbs 