Month: May 2019

As I was walking round a supermarket today, I heard someone whistling the theme from a Wallace and Gromit film. Later, as Janet and I sat in the Carnforth station cafe, trying to have a brief encounter, a child was sat at a piano in the corner, playing Beethoven’s ode to joy music. For me, these little musics conjured up deeper and richer realities. The Wallace and Gromit opened doors to memories of innocent fun. The Beethoven reminded me of the dream of a Europe no longer at war. OK at the minute, but this dream could be heading for trouble. Let’s hope this music will never be banned.

Maybe this power of music to bring up memories for us is part of the appeal of hymns to a certain generation of churchgoers: we need to discover what the ‘buttons’ are for people who have different cultures.

Carnforth was Janet’s ending point for today, and once again the scenery has changed: the sea has been visible through today’s drizzle, visible for the first time in many weeks.

God of the whole of me, speak to me, through reason, through emotions, through music and memories, through the love of friends, through my senses and my sense.

Another day on the Lancaster Canal for Janet, including the magnificent Lune aqueduct. This was made over 200 years ago by people without any modern equipment, also suffering great privations and epidemics of deadly disease.

So much for the golden days of yesteryear.

God bless all whose work is hard, or dangerous, or unhealthy: give them fairness in their life.

The next few days, humid air is expected. This often leads to hill fog. People navigating the hills in the fog sometimes get confused and lose themselves.

Hill fog also plays a part in the story of Jesus’ ascension. It veils the mystery.

Mystery, confusion… we sometimes prefer the truth to be hidden. We gladly and knowingly vote for a liar, so long as his shtick fts our prejudices. That’s why the current allegations against Boris Johnson are probably a waste of time. There are hundreds of millions of people who don’t believe that burning fossil fuels affects the climate, because they are having a good time just as they are.

And I too am pumping lots of CO2 into the atmosphere out of my little picanto for the duration of this expedition. To add to this, in these places we’re staying, recycling is not so easy as it is at home.

As Janet continued her walk through Lancashire, she noticed a line of dark clouds away to the east, while her head stayed shower-free. This row of clouds persisted for most of her day’s walk, but on Janet fell not a drop of rain.

It’s all about location. Janet’s walk has (AFAIK) been about exploring this country on the ground, pace by painstaking pace. Jesus’ ministry was all about location. It would have been different in a place other than first-century Palestine, with its particular injustices and conflicts. It would have been different if he had been a woman.

And then we come to think about ascension. Does this mean that Jesus’ work is no longer about location, but is now part of some over-arching greatness? Well, sort of.

But I’d like us to believe that it is still about location, about the day-to-day conflicts and injustices of people on the ground… about real hurt and real hope. Its just that now his work is done through you and me, with our feet on the ground.

Janet has had her feet on the ground, walking on earth, grass, cinders, mud, puddles, tarmac… And she’s done brilliantly. Sometimes on a walk, one lifts up one’s eyes and sees a new vista. Very soon now, the Lake District mountains will heave into view.

As the weather got better, the walking got harder. It began by a canal, and ended with a traipse up the A49 to the giant Sainsburys near Bamber Bridge. It was time to try out the restorative properties of ice cream.

This is a walk of light and shade.

It was another Sunday of walking for Janet and helping out for me. I’m not sure I miss church in the same way I thought I would. But now since retirement, church would be a different thing anyway, and will be when Janet’s walk finishes. I don’t miss God, because God is working in everything around me. Maybe there’s something to be done in enabling worship outside those buildings, not just in the forest or in cafes, but everywhere, maybe the twenty first century equivalents of first century Galilee.

Of course it’s still important that church is community too.

“Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee.”

I also discover today that plogging is a thing. One of our companions on the End to End a while ago also did this, at walking pace. Perhaps I was ahead of my time forty-odd years ago when I used to do guerilla litter-picking on my morning walk to work through Hulme. What grows little by little can surely also be taken away little by little.

A walk up the canal towpath today for Janet, after a day’s break to give the campervan back.

We’re in the rough area I used to visit in the wee small hours as part of the Bogle Stroll forty odd years ago. It’s left the haziest of memories.

As Janet was going north from Wigan, we saw a number of people out on the Saturday of Bank Holiday weekend. Some were running, some cycling: even many of the walkers seemed to be doing their best. Good to see people “pushing their envelopes” (sounds like a clerical job), but also good to see some dawdling and enjoying the surroundings and making the most of the weather before it turns.

God bless all people
in what they do
and in what they don’t do;
in their effort
and in their relaxation.
May we all enjoy the rhythm
of work and play,
of life and prayer….
…in the name of Jesus,
who gave everything,
yet sometimes withdrew
to be quiet.

Janet has used a different route for today and the next couple of days, so as to use canals more. This is brilliant, and today she ended up at Wigan Pier. However, there was an unwanted reroutin earlier on, as she found her way blocked by some bridge construction. Despite this one of a few annoyances today, she has walked well.

The weather was warm, and much of this morning was graced by this solar halo….

Thank you God, for your glory written in the sky.

My phone keeps popping up a message reminding me to vote. But I can’t, because I’m away from base since before postal votes arrived. It is frustrating. I shall just go down as someone who couldn’t be bothered. I wanted to have some sort of say.

Janet continues to walk strongly. Today she finished at the site of the former Vulcan Foundry, where locomotives were made*. The weather continues fair, and it’s been really good for Janet to have the support of some friends in the Manchester area.

*not ultra rational beings from another planet.

Today comes news that British steel may soon go the same way as Vulcan. I hope it doesn’t.

God of love, we pray for all people whose jobs are in danger anywhere. Bring them safe through these times, we pray. If they have to do different work, may the new work build them up and not drag the down. Lord, in your mercy… hear our prayer.

In the morning, hearing the growing soubds of day, I will praise you.

In the day, feeling the heat and weight of work, I will praise you.

In the tired evening, I will praise you.

In the starry night, I will praise you.

My maker, and maker of the world,

My friend, and the one who offers friendship to the world,

My spirit, and spirit for the healing of the world,

I will praise you.

A lovely small walk yesterday evening in the forest. Here’s some trees in the evening sun…

Part of the supporter’s job is to turn up in the car at certain points in the walk. It isn’t always easy to know where to leave it…

And a good sunset tonight…

God of love, may all your children, rich or poor, have a chance to see beauty in the world.

And may all your children have enough.