Our pipe organ in the church is becoming impossible to maintain and despite being widely cherished is going to succumb to electronics in the battle to come. It's another example of " to everything there is a season" including those of us on the parish council. I am mindful of the pianist and I visiting Christ Church, Dublin a few years back,: the church where Jonathan Swift was dean and where the remnants of that time and other era's in the church's history were saved in a museum on site. One noteworthy exhibit was a large mounted piece of organ pipe with a window cut out revealing a dessicated cat in the pipe and an equally desiccated rat further on, both at one time certainly animated. I am certain that Swift would have been quick to dispose of the organ on the basis that it was no longer noteworthy. It's an example again of how easy it is to get into trouble and how difficult it can be to get out, even if you are the church cat.
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Possibly the most read book on the art of loving was written by Erich Fromm over 50 years ago and still is unsurpassed as the most sensible and easily understood concept leading to effective,rewarding relationships. The structure of love based on KNOWLEDGE, CARE, RESPONSIBILITY and RESPECT, the foundational hallmarks,when simply explained, are so self evident that people are amazed at the lack of mystery to it all. KNOWLEDGE means simply the desire to know the object of love in all their aspects in order to meet their needs. CARE means simply to supply those needs to the best of one's ability. RESPONSIBILITY means constant and reliable action toward the loved one, since love is action. RESPECT is accepting the unique nature of the love object . The overpowering sensation of love, never to be denied, will only last in its best measure if it develops the foundational hallmarks. That's all there is to it.
Elaina read a poem at the carol and reading service the other day .I can't get it out of my head. I forget the author and the exact words but I can paraphrase it and I don't need to say why it sticks to me. I also know when she was assigned to read it she was dubious. Me too, but it has gained momentum with me as it rolls around in my head. This is all there is. It is spare.
"Our remote little country is garrisoned by a few Roman soldiers to count heads. Three travelers from Persia came and spent a little time in a shed. It was strange. Nothing important ever happens here." |
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