forgive me

crossred
Originally uploaded by auroradawning35.

Abigail Witchalls and Gee Verona (Anthony Walker's mum) have shown what it means to demonstrate grace in the face of evil. As they unburden themselves of bitterness and their attackers of guilt, they shine like flames in the darkness.

Travelling light means letting go; it takes extraordinary courage to let go with such incredible grace.

advent is...

pregnant pause
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

...a pregnant pause.

building, stage 2

DSCN0477
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

Life as a building may not be the most helpful metaphor, if we end up thinking we're building a monument for others to remember us by.

The question is, to whose glory is this building sculpted? Who will benefit from its strength and magnificence? Who will take shelter within it?

growing up

Sagrada Familia
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is stunningly beautiful; but it remains work in progress.

A life of beauty is built and re-built over time, slowly but surely; and each new block that is added requires the precise work of a master craftsman to hone it it into shape.

We may wish to add to our lives, but in the process, we must also chip away.

How do I wish to grow?

lead on

lead on
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

Rusty the dog is blind, but it doesn't stop him pushing the boundaries.

Sometimes I feel blind to the possibilities before me. But it's precisely then that I - we - have got to find other ways to see.

Follow your nose.

ray of hope

heart
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

The window-shutter on holiday had a heart-shaped hole in it. When the sunshine poured through, it cast an inverse shadow on the muslin curtain in our room. Let there be light.

absence

kats and eden
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

My wife has gone away for a few days and taken the children. Her absence is a very powerful presence.

control Z

three
Originally uploaded by trepelu.

My hairdresser was in a state the other day. He'd watched a video online of a kidnapped Westerner having their head sawn off in Iraq.

You can't always erase what goes in. Control Z doesn't always work. Some things will live with us forever.

cache and carry

Originally uploaded by kallifornia.

Whenever we delete something, it's not really deleted at all. An e-mail heads to the 'deleted' folder. A word document is stored in the trash. An old flame is filed under Friends Reunited...

We know we shouldn't hold on to certain things, but we do so, gently, lightly, tucked away in case we might just need them in the future. We look like we're travelling light, but looks can be deceiving.

riga

riga bridge
Originally uploaded by youarewhatyoudelete.

Riga's a place where you can strip it all down, peel back the layers, lighten your load and regain perspective. Soviet troops finally pulled out 11 years ago. This is a place of pain, beauty and melancholy, and it reminds you that life has ground on, over the past few decades, for so many people in so many places, despite it all. Don't take your stag weekend there - the Rigans don't deserve it. Take your curiosity, leave your respect with the people, and bring back some inspiration... as well as a big bottle of Black Balsam. Tastes like tar but you sure as hell know you've drunk it.

snow

Morges
Originally uploaded by Black Thorn.

snow changes everything. let it snow.

skating on thin ice

Bianca
Originally uploaded by Cuff.

If you've ever thought about the power, beauty and danger of language but couldn't, er, put it into words, this piece might help. It's by George Szirtes, and is this year's TS Eliot lecture (given on 23.11.05). Find it at www.poetrylibrary.org.uk.