Author: stuart

  • Mole and Rat

    The wind in the willows. This mornings reflection was a reading from wind in the willows and it captured in me a little something. I’m not even sure what the little something was, but I do not want that feeling to die. It was present in a cool, fresh air that was in the chapel.…

  • Nostalgia

    “See you back at the ranch” Such an innocuous comment after a game of squash you would think, not one to inspire a weekend of thought and nostalgia, but that it did. It so happens that my previous squash partner of 10 (yes that’s TEN) years standing or so used to say that at the…

  • Company

    I shared a meal last night. Two in fact. Firstly the Eucharist, then something more substantial (for the stomach at least!) But it wasn’t the food, although it was good, and it wasn’t the wine, although it was also very good. Spending time in the company of broken people searching to be whole is a…

  • Anointing

    The most useful and most meaningful experiences come from the most surprising of places. The partnership of a devout Catholic and a fundamentalist evangelical spells trouble in most peoples books, yet a simple and deeply spiritual time of prayer for healing and anointing with chrism was the result. The surprising place is where God is!!

  • Praying for the world

    There are many and varied worship styles in the chapel at St. Mikes and they are all from a particular perspective. However, last Tuesday – praying for the world. Half an hour of silent prayer, incense, candles, a map, book – operation world and quiet. Choose a country and pray for it, lighting a candle…

  • child-Like sense of Wonder

    We must be like a child… Something like this is in the bible somewhere. This mornings reflection was on Romans: nothing can separate us from the love of God What? not even homosexuality? You better believe it! Whether the implication of the words of St. Paul have dawned on the Fundamentalist Evangelical church I know…

  • Chocolat

    There is a lent course called ‘Christ and the Chocolaterie’, having not looked at it I cannot tell if what I thought while watching the film has been said before or not… But anyway, here goes. Chocolat – a beautifully acted and scripted romantic film – but also so overtly religious, how could anything useful…

  • Why Reluctant?

    A few people have been asking ‘why reluctant?’ I guess it must be time for a few answers!! Because: I don’t actually really enjoy church! I find much more ‘of God’ in the beauty of nature, in a face, a smile, music, sculpture, in a pint of beer in a pub with a good friend.…

  • Sunday (two weeks ago)

    Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family, Choose a big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisure wear and matching luggage. Choose a three piece…

  • Saturday: two weeks ago

    There are not many occasions to be totally pampered for little outlay, but this morning was certainly one of those times. A small B&B called ‘Colryn’ on the hill in Oban was perhaps one of the best places I have yet stayed. Mouth watering with beautiful food I had to depart for the islands. The…