the sensation of life
https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/orange-tip Three times a week I make the journey from home to the West Mid. I value the 1¼hr journey—the ½hr train journey and the walk either end. I am learning how to pray in this time. It is, notwithstanding, an unpleasant experience for me: I am surrounded by traffic, people and unremitting noise and … Continue reading Male Orange-tip Butterfly
In another statement that demonstrates how we, as a society, fail to join the dots, Alan Johnson is concerned about the level of obesity in this country. Well done: very up with the Zeitgeist, Al. Well, if we spend so much time and money and space encouraging and manipulating ourselves into being nothing more than … Continue reading Fat
I just love this poem. It's nearly a year since my last post. Ergo, Esther’s nearly 1 year old. I've been busy!
Our new daughter, Esther Ruby, was born at 20:23, Saturday 29th July. The antenatal care was wonderful — presence without unwanted interference — and, when Claire needed a caesarean section, wonderfully professional whilst remaining human. For me, it was an interesting and important experience of living between two worlds: that of the patient and that … Continue reading On being a patient
Yesterday, in A&E where I work, a 2 year old child died - or was already dead when she arrived. There are few things worse to witness than a dead child and the grief of parents. None, especially those of us with our own children, could fail to be moved deeply by sadness and fear. … Continue reading Death
Sometimes, when we consider really praying, coming close to God (or, perhaps more accurately, letting God come close), we fear what God might expect of us — some great trial, some difficult deed — or we fear that we will be asked to give up what is most precious to us — a loved one, … Continue reading Fear of God
Sooner murder an infant in its cradle than nurse unacted desires. from The Marriage of Heaven and Hell by William Blake I want to write about desire. We find ourselves inhabited by all sorts of desires, some welcome, others less so: perhaps I'm uncomfortable today and wish the weather was cooler, warmer, sunnier, drier, wetter, … Continue reading The Desiring Subject
In a consumer society there are inevitably two kinds of slaves: the prisoners of addiction and the prisoners of envy. Ivan Illich I am uneasy when I hear about Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs). I, too, am angry when I have to suffer noise, litter, graffiti, abuse and the effects of the use of alcohol and … Continue reading The ASBOs of Desire
Reason 5: loss of control. Prayer requires me to give myself into the hands of the Other, but I'd much rather be self-determining. Richard Rohr says that there are five difficult messages we need to learn: Life is hard. You are going to die. You are not that important. You are not in control. Your … Continue reading Reasons not to pray: 5
One night a man was crying, Allah! Allah! His lips grew sweet with the praising, until a cynic said, "So! I have heard you calling out, but have you ever gotten any response?" The man had no answer to that. He quit praying and fell into a confused sleep. He dreamed he saw Khidr, the … Continue reading Love Dogs