Author Archives: Barrie Cooper

There’s a complexity in life that is profound and energising. The presence of light wherever it’s origin, is creative and life giving. Read again these opening words of Genesis; ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty. darkness was over the surface of the deep, andContinue reading “Light, Life, Complexity”

I think that today’s blog will be short. This photograph was taken last might as the sun was setting. We will each interpret it in our own way. Setting sun, fading light, brokeness, connection, hope, fear, expectancy. A poem and/or a prayer: Grace filled moments, darkness touched by light. Cradled with hope, to see beyondContinue reading “Perspective”

Just give yourself a moment to reflect on this scene. I see it with the experience of having walked the path. The baked and cracked earth; single, solitary hawthorn bush, left when the rest of the hedging was taken away. The gradual slope, drawing our attention to the coppice on the crest of the ridge.Continue reading “Breathe”

You will no doubt know the hymn , ‘Rock of Ages’. It’s a classic! I reckon it appeals to the geologist in me! I simply mention this because Helen and I came across an amazing range of rock formations on a hill in the Danby Forest in North Yorshire. The evidence is before you! ItContinue reading “Rock of Ages”

I saw this the other day and took the photograph to use in a blog post. So here it is. What your interpretation is of this scene, will be probably quite different to mine. I should just leave you to your own reflection. But here are some of my thoughts. There is the juxtaposition ofContinue reading “Grey & Yellow”

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for reading this blog. I’m not writing anything today; just in need of a break. May your day and each moment be blessed by the peace that passes all understanding. Blessings and Peace, Barrie

‘Give me a moment’. A simple phrase with profound consequences. I guess we all utter the phrase sometime during the week; subliminally to ourselves, or to another. It’s about having ‘space’, however you wish to define that. ‘Living in the moment’ is a phrase we might use. I am really poor at doing what seemsContinue reading “The Moment”

Being a native of the Wirral, a peninsula, sitting across the River Mersey from Liverpool, tunnels are important! There is the Mersey Railway Tunnel, opened in 1886, and two road tunnels; The Queensway, opened in 1934 and the Kingway opened in 1971. So, there’s some trivia for a rainy day! This photograph is simply capturingContinue reading “Tunnel”

I remember reading Mandela’s autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, 26 years ago, in my first year as a Prison Chaplain. It had a profound effect on me. The story of a man who spent 27 years in prison, for daring to stand up to injustice on a industrial scale. The title is simple but profound,Continue reading “Let it shine!”

I feel slightly awkward writing today’s blog. It’s 10.47 in the morning on 29th April…no where near the dimming of the day. But this photograph chose me and I’m led to write on the theme!!! Helen and I are great fans of the singer, Alison Krauss. She sings a very evocative version of the BonnyContinue reading “Dimming of the day..”