Every now and then we come across something that really strikes home, lodges itself in our psyche, alters our outlook or prompts us to think or do differently.

I came across this photo shared online today:

Way back in 1974 my then form teacher, a very scary man, one Mr T R Philp, wrote these words in my autograph book... in those days it was the fashion for those leaving primary school to collect autographs from as many teachers as they could.

I can still visualise Mr Philp's tiny, immaculate hadnwriting, and see him copying the words from a card he kept in the top draw of his desk.  Maybe it was some kind of mantra for him?  I don't know, I never stopped to think about that.

But it was one of those things that struck home, an aspiration to be adopted for my own life.  By no means am I successful - any more than John Wesley was - my feet are very claylike and I fail regularly to meet my own standards.  But wise words, and a good aim, I think.

Other authogrpahs from friends and teachers were less profound or inspiring, but this one (which took me two nearly decades to work out because of how it was written on the page) is also sage advice:

pas d'elle yeux Rhone que nous

(read it aloud or you, too might take two decades to decipher it!)

Somehow a whole week went by before I spotted this (obviously not checking Twitter often enough - but then I don't really 'get' Twitter).  A little something to listen to in Lent which balances chuckles, chocolate and challenges...

Lent Podcast Extra

This year I seem to be so busy being busy that my Lenten intentions for blogging are falling by the wayside.

This week's photo is from New Zealand, and from the War Memorial Musueum in Auckland.  The walls of two huge halls bear the names of those whose lives were lost in WWI and WWII, and on a further blank wall is this inscription:

"Let these panels never be filled"

A prayer?  A wish?  A statement of hope?  A declaration of intent?  Yes.

This week's link is to one of the most prolific bloggers I know, and is one of this week's posts on the topic of 'friendship'. 

Jim has been something of a long distance friend to me, and to my church, for a very long time.  He tells me we first met in Oxford in 2003 when I was a not-yet-settled ministerial student, though I have little recollection of that.  Certainly our paths have crossed and recrossed since then, he once lent me a book on Habbakuk, posted from Paisley to Dibley in good faith that it'd get home again (it did!), he guided the explorations with The Gathering Place back in 2009 and still maintinas some sort of interest in us and our shenanigans!!  Jim experiences life in all its fulness, all its rawness, and kenotically expends himself for others, even to the expense of his own needs. 

So, Jim, in gratitude and with prayers for you and yours, I'm sharing this link.

Over the last couple of days over a million pounds has been donated to cancer charities, initially unsolicited, though they soon spotted, and capitalised upon, this spontaneous movement.  The whole thing began as one of those really annoying FaceBook meme thingies 'post a no makeup selfie and raise awareness of (usually breast) cancer'.  No-one had tagged me - no surprise I don't do make-up - but I had spotted a few photos over the last couple of weeks.  Then a few people who have had (mostly breast) cancer broke ranks and started posting bald photo or scar photos along with messages to check 'bits 'n' bobs' do the screening and maybe donate to your favourite cancer charity.  And yes, I was one of those who posted a baldy picture, one of my 'favourite' ones with just such a message.  Just in case you feel aggrieved not to have seen that selfie (why?) and incase you need a nudge to do the checking, screening or donating, here it is again...

17 December 2010

As an example of meme-evolution and viral-media it is fascinating.  I donated to CRUK - in the end it is research that will reap rewards, however imporant support and palliative care charities may be (and they are very important).

~"~

Then today something totally different, a FaceBook group interacting with BUGB Council live and online - something that attracted around 300 people of whom maybe a couple of dozen (mostly people I know!) contributed thoughts.  It wasn't entirely successful as a conversation, but it was fascinating (and more than a little distracting!) as an experiment, and one to be applauded I think.  There are things that need to be carefully considered about the status of the group and who joins (potentially anyone could ask to join and be added as it stands) as well as confidentiality and the kind of questions/discussions that are appropriate.  But fascinating and worth repeating, I think.

So, an interesting couple of days seeing social media doing stuff that is creative and, overall, pretty positive.