I'm still here

I'm still here, back from the north lands, where we all had a very good time. The rest of the past week has not been so hot, and yesterday Mrs Demon stetched herself across a pavement and has a suspected broken wrist - but it does mean that she'll be at home for a couple of weeks. Despite that, I should be off to Devon on retreat tomorrow, and that may also iron out the severe writer's block that's taken over at present. More later, perhaps.

Thank you Rabbi Blue!

i should be writing, but don't feel up to it. Let the wonderful Rabbi Lionel Blue express at least some of it on my behalf, in another marvellous radio Thought for the Day. I'm off to see my mother, who sounds like she's fading away; to a reunion with the class of sixty-something, and a retirement "do" and church service, both of which should be filling me with joy but somehow aren't. Maybe next week.

We can all have a silly moment

First pix of the SMD

Plenty of Fluff

Plenty of fluff keeps appearing, and when the SMD loses it, oh boy, can she hurtle and chew with the best of them! If only I had a faster camera. Maybe I’ll try a short video sequence. Anyway, all going well on day four, and Jan Fennell may possibly be a genius. If she could apply her mind to world peace and the economic downturn, we’d all be in a better place.

We are a dog-owner

Yes, the breathless world can stop holding its breath; the SMD has arrived. Currently, it is behaving very well; few little presents on the carpets; trotting outside (into the freezing snow) to do its jobbies; eating tons of food; and sleeping at night with just two quick excursions. So not bad. Also, it is enjoying exploring any room it enters, going round by the walls and under the furniture, and getting into the less frequented parts. This is turning up lots of fluff and bits and pieces that we haven’t seen for a while. It’s rather like having a free-range anti-static duster. If it ever stops still long enough, I’ll take a picture.

The Golden Rule

I must say that I find Karen Armstrong’s notion of spirituality devoid of doctrinal or dogmatic expression is very attractive. The idea of finding common ground between faiths is also attractive. And there have been attempts in the past to find that common ground, but most of them have come to nothing.

One of the greatest stories, retold by Karen Armstrong, concerns the great first century CE Rabbi Hillel:

“A group of pagans approached Rabbi Hillel and told him that they would convert to his faith if he could recite the whole of Jewish teaching while standing on one leg. So Hillel obligingly stood on one leg like a stork and said, ‘Do not do unto others what you would not have done unto you. That is the Torah. The rest is commentary. Go and learn it.’”

Jesus of course said “Do unto others as you have done unto you” but the meaning is the same. The Qu'ran imposes no creed and does not bother with doctrine, in fact, is dismissive of theolgoical speculation. Eastern faiths, especially Buddhism, spend more time on how a person lives, rather than what a person believes. Here, in conversations here with members of our local Wiccan community, I have been reminded more than once of their own version of the Golden Rule; “Save that thou harm none, do what thou wilt”.

As I approach the end of reading “The Spiral Staircase”, the implications of following this Rule, and the implications for people of faith in finding the common ground of this Rule, are both exciting and challenging.

Snow brings everything to a halt

So the snow has brought the country to a standstill. Can't say we've noticed much difference round here. There is no rush hour or morning commute. What buses we have are still running. But meetings and other events have been cancelled, because some people live up long lanes and tracks that are impassable. So I'm enjoying the opportunity to write, to read and to sort the house out a bit more.

Nearly finished "The Spiral Staircase" - what a great book! I'll be posting on this when I've finished it, but it's one of those rare books that i don't want to finish, and could easily start reading from the beginning all over again.

Grey Fox, my "exit consultant", has given me a good idea. She is putting together an anthology of influential pieces - books, prayers, hymns - with a commentary. I'm looking at trying something similar, perhaps with a new blog linked to this one. I'll keep you posted.

P minus seven

Heavy snow, so lots of things not happening or working today. Like London, very little public transport available. Unlike London, we have the same level of public transport that we usually have, and the few buses scheduled are all running through the blizzard. Plenty of time to keep up my reading; "The Spiral Staircase" and "The Dog Listener". There will be a test on the latter when Mrs Demon returns from shifts on Thursday, assuming it is possible to get here. Seven days to puppydom. Hope the dog has read the same books we have.

Another story

One of GL’s stories, told against Welsh chapel-goers:

A Welsh sea-captain was shipwrecked on a desert island. He was there for twenty years, all alone. Eventually a ship came by and saw his smoke signals. They put out a boat and sent a party ashore to rescue him.

When the sailors came ashore they looked around in amazement. The sea captain had built himself a fine house, and there were gardens, and vegetables growing. He was well set up. On one side of the compound were two fine chapels, each with a fine bamboo cross on the roof.

“My word, these are fine chapels!” said the sailors.
“Oh, yes,” said the sea captain, “I am a God-fearing man, and always attend chapel on Sunday.”
“Excellent!” said the sailors, “But, er, why are there TWO chapels? You are the only person on the island!”
“Ah well, you see,” said the sea captain pointing to one of the chapels, “That’s the chapel I don’t go to!”

That reminds me of a story ...

I was restored to a better frame of mind by a visit to the Little Pub with the Big Brewer, in the company of GL. GL is a retired priest who helps us out. He was born and bred in this part of the world, and seems to be related to most people between Bridgnorth and Aberystwyth. Before he was ordained about twenty years ago he was a Lay Reader (an Anglican lay minister) for years before that. Looking back in the service registers, GL’s initials appear as far back as 1965. he has never lost his roots, and never become part of the “clergy club”. He has a fund of stories, is never lost for words, and is generally good company. I always feel better after an hour in his company. Some treat him as a long-winded buffoon, but that is a big mistake. He has great sensitivity and understanding, and especially an understanding for the ordinary people of this area, and great pastoral gifts.

Telling GL of my current “local difficulties” produces a number of anecdotes which involve him taking the wind out of the sails of his “elders and betters”, reminding me that this sort of behaviour has been going on round these parts for a very long time; tweedy churchwardens who tell clergy they are there “to do as they are told”; rude remarks about clergy wives who do their own housework; snide comments on the quality of sermons. All these ways of putting down and taking control have been practiced and honed over years. He helps me get things back in perspective.

That reminds me of a story …