We live in a world marred by violence... whether that is drone strikes in Ukraine, bulldozers in Gaza, shootings in north Amrican high schools, stabbing on trains or high streets in the UK, or domestic violence hidden behind closed doors.

We live in a world where peace, however we describe it, is in short supply.

And so I think it is important to remember... not to glorify (the Great War poets debunked that myth long ago) not to celebrate 'us' beating 'them' (because 'they' are, after all, 'us') but with sobriety and sadness to keep in mind both the devastation of war and the hope of peace.

This year, my 'Poppy Scotland' poppy came from Edinburgh, my 'RBL' poppy from Crewe railway station (where they seemed to have uncovered a stash of poppies with plastic stems), the 'Peace Pledge Union' is an old one, stored away each year.

I remember and honour conscripts and volunteers who served and serve in the armed forces
I remember and honour those whose consciences meant and mean refusal to serve in armed forces
I remember and honour the animals - horses, dogs, pigeons and cats - who found and find themselves conscripted for military service

I remember - and choose never to forget - both the potential for human inhumanity and the hoped for promise of eternal peace.         

On the 30th October 2005 this blog was born.  It was a time before social media platforms really took off, and when several ministers and theologians I knew created online reflective spaces to share ideas.

Twenty years on many, maybe most, of those blogs are long gone, their writers either having moved to social media platforms, or having abandoned this form of communication.  For me, having been drawn into personal and professional use of social media spaces has had an adverse effect on my practice of blogging, especially since the pandemic of 2020.  Yet, here I still am, and here you faithful, generous, gracious and kind followers still are.

I am advance posting this, partly so that I don't forget, to ensure that come the day, this milestone is marked.

So whether you have followed for 20 years, 20 posts or 20 minutes, THANK YOU for reading this stuff. 
Whether you comment, email or lurk, THANK YOU for pondering this stuff
Wherever and whoever you are, THANK YOU for being the unique, precious and wonderful people you are.

Will this blog make it another milestone birthday?  Who knows, for nothing is ever promised.  But, to borrow an oft quoted quote, 'for what has been, thank you, for what's to come, yes'.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!       

Last week I was at an event for Transitional Ministers where we share ideas and offer peer support.  It's a good thing, and I appreciate the wisdom and insight of my colleagues.  One of the resources that was recommended was the book photographed above, which I managed to pick up second hand.

On Monday I spent about two and a half hours skim-reading the book and making notes, which I then shared with the group.  That others found the notes helpful is a bonus, because for me the real joy was discovering that I could do this... ever since my chemo back in 2010, I have had long-term mild cognitive effects including days when I can't focus to read, as well as difficulty retaining information/memory loss. As the international expert at a conference I once chaired on this topic noted, it's often the most high-functioning people with the best coping strategies who are most aware of this... For fifteen years I have operated successfully even with this reality, and have accepted it as the status quo, but maybe, just maybe, I have rediscovered an ability I thought I'd lost for good... and if not, well it was good to be able to do it on Monday!

This morning I gathered in the last of the tomatoes that have been growing - largely neglected it has to be said - at the bottom of my garden. The bowl shows those gathered over around three weeks, as the glorious September sunshine ripened more than I could readily eat, and will hopefully help to the green ones added today.

I also conducted the annual test of the 'buddleia indestructibility hypothesis' that claims you can prune them really hard and they will grow back even bigger next year... it has always worked thus far, but presumably one year it won't... time will tell.  And then there was the 'pruning the landlady's rose bush without killing it' challenge... last year this not only succeeded, but led to greater flowering, but next year... again, time will tell.

Many, many years ago I preached on John 15 (the vine image) and idea that fruitful branches are pruned hard in order that they might flourish in another season.  Today I've been reminded of my own sermon, of the reality that pruning is risky, and harvests not guaranteed... but somewhere in it all the gardener-cum-vinedresser is active, whether to gather late ripening fruit, to hack off 'runners' and 'suckers', to prune the branches, pull up weeds, (all things I did this morning) and in it all to name the hope that another year will bring new, beautiful and fruitful growth .

Today  was marking some essays - the very first time ever, which felt quite daunting.

In one of the essays was a quotation that clearly had words missing, so I dug out my copy of the book form the shelf, and checked it... that made me feel strangely grown up and like a proper teacher person.  The essay itself was fine, so it wasn't a big deal, and at least the reference itself was complete.

Small things, pleasing my minuscule brain, or some such.  At least I am now a little less anxious about marking formal academic stuff that needs a score not just pass/fail.