School Concerts

It seems two minutes since I was happy that Half Term was here and now it's time for the Easter break. Yippee! Hurray! Thank goodness.

This week's not been too bad though - work's been a bit rough but the extra curricular things have made it bearable. Both my children had school concerts to appear in. My daughter was a georgeous ladybird in a comical version of Little Red Riding Hood and was word perfect and had a very red face. My son was in the choir and the samba band in his school concert and both were wonderful.

What was great was the amount of work put in by the young people and the teachers. As well as huge quanitities of natural talent there was enthusiasm, commitment, team work and a lot of fun. At a time when young people get a slamming in the press and certain newspapers would have us think that no teacher ever does anything beyond the call of duty, it is great to remember the thousands of kids and staff in schools making an effort and having a great time.

It gives me hope!

Art and Faith

Earlier this week I had a wonderful day at the Tate Modern with some good friends. Some of the stuff is weird, a small amount is obscene but some of it is truly wonderful. No matter how many times I have seen one of Monet's 'Waterlilies' in books, there is nothing like seeing the real thing. There is a wonderful electricity that seems generated by a truly great work of art - it is as though the artist has left something of their very soul in their work. Being able to see the texture of each brush stroke is such a privilege.

For me visits to art galleries are spiritual experiences - they enhance my faith because I am confronted with artist's questions or perspectives on the world and human existence. For me this leads inevitably to the big questions about God and creation and the relationship between artist and their creation. Even art that has no aspiration to be 'religious' can have a profound effect on me. Is it okay to read matters of faith in the work of someone who would not ascribe to the existence of God?

On the whole I think there are two kinds of art - good and bad. The faith/worldview of the artist is not as important as their skill, imagination and ability to translate an idea into reality.

What do you think.

Not having a good day

Today was not a good day.

A situation arose at work that left me really cross and frustrated and no amount of trying to focus on other stuff made me feel any better. I struggle with how to handle these sort of situations because, as a Christian I feel guilty about being cross with someone else and I often end up keeping my anger (even justifiable anger) inside. I also know that there is a spiritual (and psychological) cost in keeping a lid on things but I worry that I'll seem unprofessional, or stroppy, if I let negative feelings out.

How do other people deal with feelings that feel overwhelming, or get in the way? And is 'niceness' a face we hide behind that stops us changing the world into the place God longs for it to be?

I'm probably just making a fuss.... - is it a Christian thing, or a gender thing... or maybe it's just me????

What do you think (and no I'm not telling what happened because that really would be unprofessional!!)