Burnsall...

A couple of days ago, by the River Wharfe in Burnsall...

Lambeth Conference...

There’s an article on the Guardian website today about the forthcoming Lambeth Conference, when more than 650 Anglican bishops are due to meet in Canterbury for two weeks of “prayer and discussion”. The Guardian’s write-up employs the weary “will this do?” tone we might use when reporting the latest outburst from a reliably racist uncle.

The main talking point will be, as always, same-sex marriage and relationships, highlighting the divisions between the liberal and conservative wings of the church (essentially the global north and south). Can the bishops come up with some carefully contrived euphemisms which might placate both sides? Just as importantly, is anyone outside the church even remotely interested in what these bishops have to say? Let the Anglican church split in two. Who cares? There are now about 40,000 denominations which, despite their many differences, define themselves as Christian. What’s two more?

Licenced today: Thirsk Hall in North Yorkshire... 

Humility...

A quote from Krishnamurti arrived in my email in-tray this morning: “Humility is not to be acquired or cultivated. Only the vain cultivate humility”. I’ve often wondered about humility, and why anyone would want to search for it. Is it even possible to achieve humility without also being afflicted by the sin of pride? Though asking people to do impossible things is a familiar biblical trope, insisting on humility is incoherent (and asking people to do the impossible is, of course, morally indefensible).

Licenced today: a street in Watchet, Somerset… 

Ring for sex...

I made a rare visit yesterday to the North Cave carboot sale. I don’t know where else I could find a stall offering ‘haircuts and pre-loved clothing’, or autojumble and home-made scones for sale… on the same table. I kept my money in my pocket until I saw, on one stall, a tiny red bell with ‘Ring for sex’ printed on it. “Does it work?”, I asked. “Of course”, the stallholder said. “Then why are you selling it?”. That’s 50p well spent.

The village of Lyddington, Rutland...

Time to stand and stare...

Leisure… by W H Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.
No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.
No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.
A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

Pedal-crankers cycling through the village of Weston by Welland, Northants...

The Devil’s Dictionary...

Though I decided, weeks ago, that I had reached ‘peak stuff’, I’m still buying a few books from charity shops. Yesterday’s find was a most welcome addition to the library: The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce, first published in 1906. A few samples…

Redemption: “The deliverance of sinners from the penalty of their sin, through the murder of the deity against whom they sinned”…

Pray: “To ask that the laws of the universe be annulled in behalf of a single petitioner confessedly unworthy”…

Irreligion: “The principal one of the great faiths of the world”…

Licenced today: house-for-sale signs in Mytholmroyd...

England 2, Spain 1...

I watched the women’s quarter-finals last night, England v Spain. Not a bad game, though an objective judgement would have had Spain ahead on points after 90 minutes, for technical ability, running with the ball and stringing a few passes together. Most shots at goal, from both teams, seemed tame and lacking conviction, which is why extra time was needed. England stayed in the competition with a wonderful solo goal from Georgia Stanway. With a kick that nearly knocked her off her feet, she scored a 'screamer' from outside the penalty box.

Licenced today: the view, from the old slate quarry, of the village of Chapel Stile in Langdale…