One of my blog-pals (i.e. a blogger I consider a friend even though I have not met them in the real world) Perpetua has nominated me for the Versatile Blogger award.  I am secretly quite chuffed she thought of me, however I'm not sure I qualify, not least as the majority of people I might choose to nominate have declared their blogs as 'award free, tag free' zones.  However, it's a bit of fun, so apart from the nominating I'll join in... if you happen to be a blogger and you fancy joining in then I'm sure you can self-nominate!  Basically you have to declare five quirky things about yourself (however you define quirky) so here goes...

1. I wear snowman socks in summer; indeed I wear snowman socks all year round if they happen to be the next pair to come out of the sock drawer.  Spotty socks, striped socks, socks with cows, socks with cats, you name it, I'll wear it... preferably not too much pink it has to be said, but I enjoy silly socks.
2. I like walking in the rain without a coat or an umbrella and getting absolutely soaking wet... then I go home and have a nice hot shower to warm up again.  Not something I do very often, usually if I'm out in the rain it's because I'm going somewhere, so I need to arrive dry and presentable.
3. I talk to the television/radio.  This is probably a sign of insanity, but I blame it on living alone (apart from the recently moved in cat).  I have no compunction about telling announcers the are wrong, correcting grammar, pointing out inconsistencies or offering my opinions.
4. I am currently on a quest for soya-lecithin free fairtrade chocolate.  Since deciding to eliminate foods high in phytoestrogens from my diet (since research suggests they abrogate the Tamoxifen) I have only found two chocolate bars that are safe to eat... Cadbury's Twirl and Cadbury's Flake, neither of which is Fairtrade.  Other quirky aspects of this mean I no longer eat sage or flax seeds!
5. I occasionally bemuse people by demonstrating degrees of ambidextrousness (is there such a word?) by doing tasks with whichever hand is closer.  But my oddest quirk is using a potato peeler in my right hand then chopping up the spuds with my left...

I'm not sure if this makes me versatile, quirky or just plain weird - but now you know!

Today's PAYG was the parable of the lost sheep from Luke's gospel, one I have preached on many a time, and have indeed noted the risk the shepherd takes in leaving the ninety nine to fend for themselves in order to search for the one.  What struck me in listening to the relfection was not the ideas - they were famialir - but the language of recklessness, which seems to fit with the concept of outrageous generosity.  I wonder what might be the reuslt of us recongising God as reckless, and then seeking to 'go and do likewise'?  Hmm.  Big challenge.

An email today confirming my graduation date from the University of Manchester, and the 'degree I get in my forties'.  So 16th December, just three days before my 49th birthday, I will be prancing about in MPhil robes being, as far as I can ascertain, the only person ever to get the degree I'm getting as the programme closed to new entrants and I took the exit qualification to ensure I at least completed.  I recall when I signed up for this thinking I'd have a degree in each decade of my adult life and wondering what my fifties might herald in terms of learning and growing.  I guess opting for an MPhil now means that if I stay NED, there is still the potential for a PhD in my fifties...  We'll see.

Anyway, for now I am very grateful to the secret benefactor who has offered to take me to graduate, and look forward to the pre-birthday present of a day in my much-loved city of Manchester.

... my friend Julie has an interesting post here  with an extended quote from Rabbi Julia Neuberger.  Always quite interesting to hear other faith's perspectives... grist to our theological mill methinks

I have to confess I'm never entirely clear on the theological distinction between All Saints and All Souls.  Is the former about 'saints official' and the latter about 'saints in the making'?  Or is the former about 'believers in Christ' and the latter about 'everyone who ever lived'?  And, dependent on our theologies of sainthood and salvation, how do we then mark - if indeed mark we do - this day?

I *think* (and I think the * thingy is meant to be some kind of emphasis type of indication) that saints are those who might be termed 'believers in Christ' and that souls are effectively people.  I also hold fast to the one liner in 2 Peter that it is God's will that none perish... a kind of universalist leaning within God.  It is no secret that I rather hope God is a universalist (and in a very broad sense, scripture indicates that God is... John 3:16-17, God sent his son into the universe (kosmos) in order to save the universe (kosmos)).

[eek, I had a great idea, got half way through the sentence, forgot what it was and now I can't recall it all all!  Long term 'mild cognitive impairment' (aka long term chemobrain) strikes again]

Anyway, I have a sense that All Souls is a gentle kind of a day, one that majors on God's grace, mercy and love rather than God's anger and judgement.

Quite a few folk to remember today who died this year - four associated with the Gathering Place, one from Dibley, and two I came into indirect contatct with via the web.

Also a day to remember those who are sick in body, mind or spirit and to pray for their wholeness.