Author Archives: wonderingpilgrim

Keeping the Startle in Christmas

Silverfish! One of the biggest challenges for those of us charged with narrating the Nativity each year is to allow the essence of the story to emerge through the sentiment and tinsel and, yes, the celebratory drudgery that many deem it their annual obligation to tolerate. A few Christmases ago, we ordered a heavy dutyContinue reading “Keeping the Startle in Christmas”

Advent Reflection – Love: action,not sentiment

Last week was tetchy. People were tired and stressed. Meetings were terse and abrupt. Summer storms, both meteorological and emotional passed swiftly over. The combination of festive preparations and end-of-year wrap ups added to the testy cocktail. Yet there were moments of pause and reflection – little oases of reality that emerged through the fluffContinue reading “Advent Reflection – Love: action,not sentiment”

Vale Christopher

I am saddened at the death of Christopher Hitchens. I enjoyed his writing, even though I struggled to find the words and arguments to counter the blistering clarity and oh-so-reasonable logic of his wit. We differed on much, but we also shared a few things. A birth year. 1949 is a good vintage, and IContinue reading “Vale Christopher”

It’s not within Cooee …

She frowned with miscomprehension, “What did you say?” “It’s not within Cooee of here,” I repeated. “In fact, you have to go south of the river to find it.” “That word …Cuey?… I’ve not heard that before.” It occurred to me that another word of our unique vernacular might be on its way out. Pity.Continue reading “It’s not within Cooee …”

Busier doing nothing?!?!

We had most of the group end of year breakups last week. Just one or two to go in the next day or so. (For those north of the equator, the combination down under of summer holidays, Christmas and New Year makes for six weeks of what we call the silly season – don’t worry,Continue reading “Busier doing nothing?!?!”

Advent Reflection: Joy, anticipated and celebrated

Ever have some odd quirky thing from years ago that sticks in your mind that you can’t get rid of, no matter how hard you try? One of mine is a segment from a Rem and Stimpy cartoon – inevitably triggered when I hear the word “joy”. Perhaps because I have been in so manyContinue reading “Advent Reflection: Joy, anticipated and celebrated”

Film Review: The Ides of March

Free spirit that I am, I took some time out for a cinema fix after a busy week. Mrs WP was otherwise occupied, so it was a lone choice, and it boiled down to either The Iron Lady or The Ides of March. What a dilemma! Both portray political dramas and the machinations behind the scenesContinue reading “Film Review: The Ides of March”

Advent Reflection: Peace – not absence of conflict

It may strike one as absurd that a day given to reflecting on peace revolves around that fiery wild figure that stormed out of the Judaean desert preaching repentance and baptism for the forgiveness of sins. John the Baptist seems an incongruous figure for what we imagine to be peace – serene narcosis wrapped inContinue reading “Advent Reflection: Peace – not absence of conflict”