Author Archives: Barrie Cooper

I’ve read books on contemplation, some good, some not so. It’s an industry in itself across the religious divides. My problem is, when I try to contemplate! I have a grasshopper brain that can’t settle. This writing each day is cathartic, because it allows me to be honest with myself and with you, the reader.Continue reading “Contemplation”

Is the question I ask myself as I start to write this blog. A few, comes back the response in my head! Not certain how to define the phrase; I’ll let you ruminate on your own understanding. My hang up at this precise moment; how is this blog going to turn out!? Anyway, here goes.Continue reading “Hang ups?”

I’m having a short sabbatical,,,just for today!!! I simply offer the words above, for you. A simple statement and a response. My mother-in-law, Kate Watling was the Calligrapher. God rest her soul. Peace be with you.

Photograph taken by my good self whilst walking through a woodland last year! I’ve no idea what I want to say at this precise moment, but I’m sure I’ll think of something! There is definately a face to be seen in this lonely fungus, and it appears to be smiling ruefully. The face seems toContinue reading “Curious!?”

Everything has its time. I’m sure no one could disagree with this statement. The author of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament, adds this; ‘For everything has a season, a time for every activity under heaven.’ Life is about trying to understand, and sometimes we overcomplicate things, when simple questions and answers might suffice. The titleContinue reading “Something Understood”

Crossing shadows, deep calls to deep. Silent passing, looking and watching, as the darkness invades the light. Focussed on movement, imperceptively quick. Here we are, standing by the strand, waiting for that moment of revelation, before it moves beyond this place and time. Opportuniy missed or still to come? Take the darkness and the lightContinue reading “Moments in Time”

Sorry…I forgot to say that the Sculpture is in the grounds of the Priory Church of St Mary, Bridlington, in East Yorkshire! They have a good website too!!!

Yesterday, I was looking through photographs that I’d taken over recent years, and I came across this; the remains of a tree, transformed into a sculpture. The lettering at the top is a quote taken from one of the early church Fathers, Augustine of Hippo, and it reads thus; ‘There is no saint without aContinue reading “Saying it all!”

I took this photograph at the height of the storm, yesterday afternoon. The whole moment rendered me speechless. It just spoke to me of power and chaos and creation and my insignificance. An energising moment holding together a multitude of feelings. I can hear the roar of the tumbling, racing sea, in my head evenContinue reading “Power”

We are all experiencing the highs and lows of the moments we live in. Some days better than others. This week we have a set of readings that take us from the stoning of Stephen, to the powerful trust of the Psalmist, to Peter’s assurance of God’s mercy, ending with John the gospeller relating Jesus’Continue reading “The Doubter”