Footnotes on Life

Silence is golden, so they say. It can undoubtedly have a certain shimmer to it. There is this glorious little book called ‘The Quiet Book’, which shows lots of different kinds of quiet. ‘Right before you yell ‘Surprise’ quiet’, or ‘Thinking of a reason you were...

Martin Luther once said ‘even if I knew that tomorrow the world was going to go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree’. This could be perceived as an act which is foolish, profound, absurd, symbolic, mockable, hopeful and essential. Lots of things are like...

We need to talk about home. By which I mean not walls, those these are good. Not our stuff, though that is lovely too. I mean more that sense of at -one-ness, the comfort, the safety, of being understood and accepted. The coming home. Being home. You may know folk for...

There is something that is pulsating through the air. Every so often it feels like it passes right through my heart. I like refer to this as The Rage. The Rage is strong and fierce and it takes me unawares. I wonder if The Rage has found you too? I wish it was...

There is an art gallery where I live and once I spotted a painting of distant purple hills and trees. It had the caption ‘As yet untrod’. I was so taken by this that I bought a postcard print of this, framed it in an Ikea frame and have it on my bedroom wall. As yet...

You may have a job which is a job, and is largely functional. You may have a role which isn't a job. Your role or job may fulfil sense of vocation for you. Or you may have a vocation which is pursued in any free time you have available. Whatever the case may be, as...

There is a theory called the adjacent possible. I am so drawn to this idea. I have carried around a tiny door handle in my purse to remind me of this adjacent possible for nearly two years. It is important to believe in I think because, in my life at least, a lot of...

Please listen here if you prefer to hear this read out loud There is something about things that are airborne that are quite captivating. Natural things like birds and clouds. And us-made things like kites, hot air balloons and fireworks. The wind is in charge up...

Please listen here if you would prefer to hear this read out loud We are at home quite a bit at the moment, as I imagine you are too. We have worked our way through Disney re-makes and Aladdin is a family favourite. In this movie the Genie (we heart Will Smith) grants...

Please listen here if you prefer to hear this read out loud You know when you see the Earth from space or watch any David Attenborough or Planet Earth you notice that there are a great many trees and wide open spaces and vastness of oceans. In fact in every Planet...

The periphery Please listen here if you would prefer to hear this read out loud One of my chaplain friends says chaplaincy is regarded as either pivotal or peripheral within healthcare. Chaplaincy also sits out there on the edges of what matters to the church. A...

Please listen here if you prefer to hear this read out loud I was reminded recently that the movie The Moulin Rouge has a great soundtrack. Listening again, the song which struck me most was ‘Come What May’. Now, it does contain some lyrics about the world seeming...