When was the last time that you changed your mind? About someone or some incident or conversation?
In that Temple of Universal Provision (Sainsburys) I went in search or a Father's Day card and was taken past the books. Most of the new titles were going for a song. My choice (I
Penant Menangell
Posted on by James Woodward
After an eight o'clock communion where I arrived three minutes late mcuh to the irritation of both the vicar and the churchwarden (I must remember that you can express a lot through a well chosen look) - I travelled north to see the beautiful pilgrimage church of St Melangell.
I
Accounting for what shapes age?
Posted on by James Woodward
Do you remember your grandparents? What were they like? I remember my mothers, mother - going to see her as a very young child when my mother would help her with the housework and ironing. I must have been very young but I remember her grey hair and wrinkled hands and
In memory of Claire
Posted on by James Woodward
Time moves us on and things happen in life whether we like it or not. I am constantly surprised at the sheer unpredictability and fragility of life and love. It nurtures deep within me a sense of thankfulness for each day and the gifts that are so generously shared especially in
Respect? What Respect?
Posted on by James Woodward
What are the forces that erode respect in modern society? Respect can be gained by attaining success, developing talents, financial security or by helping others. There are, however, many others who are not able to adhere to the demands of todays meritocracy and loose esteem. I s
Acts of Faith?
Posted on by James Woodward
There is a start to a sermon that goes like this:
1. Close your eyes and imagine your perfect world.
2. Open them and think what needs to change for that to happen
3. Go out of the Church and do it. Amen
Short and simple. A clear message and plenty of congregational parti
The strange world of American Politics?
Posted on by James Woodward
Well - it is to be Barack Obama for the Democratic candidate - an extraordinary result for him and the attraction of the US way of doing power. I know that many of my friends at the University of Chicago will be delighted - and some of them stand to profit from his rise with seni
Marc Chagall
Posted on by James Woodward
On my living room wall above the study in Temple House I have some lithograph reproductions of four biblical scenes by Marc Chagall. These were produced in large quantities in France and I picked them up there very cheaply in a shop in Paris. They are wonderful prints. While on s
Back in our little old land of plenty!
Posted on by James Woodward
Well - I am back in the UK and still feeling the after effects of the unnatural business of modern flight! I am not going to go into the bizarre experience of public libraries and computers except to say that securing access to the machine has been harder and more complicated tha
Accounting for Longevity?
Posted on by James Woodward
If we are to grasp what ageing means for us at an individual level then we must also come to terms with the ways in which age is a social and cultural phenomenon. This is a complicated field full of experts and competing theories. In all dialogue there are myths and misinform
Jet Lag
Posted on by James Woodward
By the time you read this I (hope) that I shall have arrived back in England! I am flying Virgin Atlantic and they have flooded Chicago with adverts. There is a stretch of Michigan Avenue called the magnificent mile where most of the major retail outlets are and many of the famou
And be Thankful
Posted on by James Woodward
For those if you who know your Bible you will be able to find the source of these three words! As the second leg of my sabbatical draws to a close I am full of gratitude - to people back home and here who have made this extraordinary experience possible.
I love this city and its
Smile and….
Posted on by James Woodward
the world smiles with you!
Someone once said that you get the face you deserve at 50..... what do you make of that. I think that I have a slightly unfortunate face. When it relaxes I look (I think - because I don't spend hours in front of the mirror) a bit miserable! I think it i
On top of the world?
Posted on by James Woodward
It is good to be a tourist and to tick those three star 'musts' off the list. And ever in need of a sermon illustration I wondered whether one really did feel nearer to God in the worlds tallest building! So - here is is - the Sears Tower - 233 South Wacker Drive - to give it i
Painting the Ordinary
Posted on by James Woodward
In the Art Institute of Chicago there is the largest collection of French Impressionist paintings outside France. I spend some time getting to know the Impressionists. Here is one you might remember: (Degas)
The impressionists record the desire of the passing moment. Many
Words
Posted on by James Woodward
There are only a few things that I remember being smacked for at home - swearing was one of them. I picked up this language in the playground and taught my sister it before tea. My poor parents went spare! As I overhear conversations on trains and in shops there seems littl
How many gadgets do we need for living?
Posted on by James Woodward
Well here is my bit of Daily Mail journalism for the month! I sometimes wonder looking around here (and elsewhere) whether we shall ever need to speak to anyone ever again.....
During my search for a book in the library I saw a lad carrying his lap top - probably with the infor
The Last Gift of Time
Posted on by James Woodward
I have turned to some biographical narrative in order to consider how older people themselves narrate the meanings of age. Perhaps it is not surprising to discover that women do this much more creatively (and I think honestly) than men. This short book is quite amazing in its elo
In Praise of…..
Posted on by James Woodward
Johnny Cash!
Thanks to friends I have a recorder which helps me in my research and also gives me the chance to listen to music - I have mastered the art of downloading music - which is a great in the absence of radio and television. My new discovery is Country and Western - (n
Painted Glass
Posted on by James Woodward
You might remember my writing about Washington National Cathedral last month. I was reminded of a funny conversation that I overheard. I should say that it is not difficult to overhear conversations - they speak so loudly here!
Referring to the glass a lady asked 'Do they have t