Lisa P

Leave room for lament, by Hannah Leckebusch Over the past few months I have found myself repeatedly dwelling on feelings of brokenness and grief, both on a personal level and because of the wider world which feels ever more volatile and divided. These are not easy or comfortable feelings to sit with but it feels important to acknowledge them and, as a Christian, Lent offers a helpful space to do so. Something I’ve learnt through therapy over the past few years is that there is real power in recognising and properly inhabiting difficult feelings, be they fear, anger, confusion, bitterness... that’s not to suggest that perpetually wallowing in despair is helpful (and I’m all too guilty of that at times), but I believe that naming and reflecting on brokenness can prompt more compassionate, meaningful action – on a personal scale, within local communities, and globally. Lament can be transformative. During a church service back in the autumn I was suddenly struck afresh by the sense of God (in Jesus) being with us and alongside us in the brokenness of the world, reflected in the broken bread at Holy Communion. Jesus who, even after the resurrection, still bears the scars of crucifixion. The pain and horror were transformed into glory, but they weren’t erased from his past. Like most of us, I would love explanations for and an end to the suffering in the world (so much of which is wholly preventable, and so much more utterly random and unjust). I don’t believe God causes that pain, but I do think God works in spite of (and sometimes through) our human brokenness. Emmanuel, God with us, a promise received at Christmas and fulfilled in the events of Holy Week and Easter. Whatever your circumstances today, may you find courage to acknowledge your own brokenness and that of those around you – and strength to find healing and bring it to others also.

Portrait: replica of the Charred Cross (made of two pieces of oak) in the ruins of the Old Cathedral at Coventry, with a bombed out window behind it. Written in gold on the bricks immediately behind the base of the cross are the words 'Father forgive'.

Portrait: Lit tealights (and a larger, purple candle, also lit) in focus in the foreground, with a wall of colourful modern stained glass (the Baptistery Window, in the New Cathedral) blurred in the background.

I wrote this for our weekly internal 'Pause for Thought' reflection at work, and it seems to have resonated with people, so I'm sharing a copy here in case it helps anyone else.

(It was published last Friday, though actually written before the latest series of horrors in the Middle East.)

#CofE

This is a life and death story for the UK – so why is it being brushed under the carpet? The news that healthy life expectancy is in decline in Britain exposes a serious truth about the state we’re in, says Guardian columnist Aditya Chakrabortty

This is a life and death story for the UK – so why is it being brushed under the carpet?

Former Middle East adviser at the US Department of Defense, Jasmine El-Gamal, has it exactly right.

Updated:

'I didn't grow up wanting to be a politician, I'm a plumber'

The green Party's Hannah Spencer has won the Gorton and Denton, with Reform in second and Labour finished third

Bishop of Lincoln Stephen Conway arrested in sexual assault inquiry Right Reverend Stephen Conway has also been suspended by the Church of England.

There's so much bizarre news at present that the #BishopofLincoln has been arrested for sexual assault and it's barely making headlines.
#Lincoln #ChurchofEngland
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

America: well we must have extended immunity for the president because we inherited the principle of sovereign immunity from British legal tradition, and...

Britain: *arrests the brother of the sovereign*

The UK arresting Andrew.

South Korea tossing their wannabe dictator in jail for life.

John Roberts better be getting a really nice Edible Arrangement from the White House.

Good grief. Everyone knows they were just friends.

Happy Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week to aro folks out there! 💚🤍🖤

New neighbours are moving in next door. I hope they are nice (quiet).

I definitely prefer puy lentils to quorn mince #Bolognese #Experimenting

Join Carl Bovis's Membership Support Carl Bovis monthly

My shop has been so quiet since Christmas. I need to make a certain amount every month to keep my little business going.🐦
Memberships on my Ko-fi, where I post my bird blogs, are essential 🙏
You can join from £3 a month if you'd like to help. 😊❤️
ko-fi.com/carlbovis/ti...

A photographic series on wood mice by wildlife photographer Julian Rad.

Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) are common in Britain and can be found in homes or gardens. They are known for their large ears and eyes, as seen in the image.

#photography #woodmouse #nature #wildlife

It’s always difficult establishing a presence on a new social media site. You should all be following Ian McMillan who has made the move from X. Guaranteed to brighten up your timelines.

I've a couple of feeders in my garden. The pigeons have become regulars, hoovering up spilt seed. The feeders get refilled regularly, so that the pigeons now see me as their 'provider'. Every time I go into the kitchen, this is what I see. Yesterday - wet but hopeful! #birding #birds #funny #nature

Pinned lizzie johnson @lizziejohnsonnn · Aug 19, 2021 Almost three years ago, my editor called me early one November morning. A wildfire had sparked near a town called Paradise, he said. Could I go? (1/13) 0:02 / 0:10 lizzie johnson @lizziejohnsonnn · 47m I was just laid off by The Washington Post in the middle of a warzone. I have no words. I'm devastated. Quote lizzie johnson @lizziejohnsonnn · Jan 25 Waking up without power, heat, or running water. (Again.) But the work here in Kyiv continues. Warming up in the car, writing in pencil — pen ink freezes — by headlamp.

A publisher who lays off a reporter whose pen is freezing because she's covering a frigid war zone while dodging missiles is not an editor you want to work for, in a more perfect world

Thanks for posting this. I've read your post and just done this too.

I have something in my eyes as I read this 🥲

Happy Birthday 🎂

A black and white photograph of a man sitting on a concrete bench in a large empty room Sit here while I go over there and pray. (Matthew 26v36) When we obey and do nothing God begins our salvation (Andrew Dotchin)

#txt4today✝️

Sit here while I go over there and pray.
(Matthew 26v36)

When we obey and do nothing God begins our salvation
(Andrew Dotchin)

This is one of the biggest stories in America, comparable in scale to what’s happening in Minnesota. The largest social media platform is transferred to Trump’s allies and immediately forbids you from saying anything bad about him. Absolutely totalitarian in nature. No different than China.

French generals see it
#DescentIntoFascism

Trump is putting tariffs on US allies in Europe but hasn’t imposed any on Russia yet

The Love Tank is co-producing the Queer Health Survey, the UK's first inclusive health survey of queer communities. Ace and Aro people are urged to take part, and you must be 18 or over and in the UK.

forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

Me. I finally left this week.

67% of Reform MPs have previously been elected as representatives of the Conservative Party. They broke the country last time; do you trust them to fix it?

Questionnaire about AI and loneliness for my daughter's psychology dissertation

Hi everyone.. I need a big favour please! ❤️
Could you please complete this survey for my daughter's psychology dissertation. 🙏
I've done it, it's easy, multiple choice answers & click submit at the end! 😊
It only takes a couple of minutes.
Here;
app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/plymouth/d...

I finally deleted my X account yesterday.