Inky Fingers
Dear Friends
Whether you stand on Carn Brea, St. Agnes Beacon or Trencrom Hill - or, for that matter, any clifftop along the north coast - the natural landscape you see has been largely unchanged for a very long time. The weather may change daily but the tides come and go. By comparison, the human aspects - clay tips, engine house stacks, homes and even churches (including our own) are relatively recent: a few centuries only. Apart from those in your immediate vicinity, the people in this landscape are largely indistinguishable at a distance apart from the moving traffic - cars, lorries, coaches, trains. And yet we are all people with our own lives, issues and so on: all precious to God. What you see depends on where and when you stand - and how you look!
By the time you read this we will have embarked on the latest voyage of our parish life, with a new Captain on the bridge of our particular vessel: complete with crew (from stoker to lookout - you and me!) that provides a continuity. I understand that setting sail (quite apart from the practicalities) is a telling part of any voyage - and I sense an atmosphere of anticipation and expectation among our hands too! We've had a period of shore leave and revittling (quite normal as it turns out, given the natural uncertainties) and we'll have a pilot on board for a while (Rev. Mike Kippax, well known to us here); but basically however, Captain (Rev. Mike Firbank) - it's up to you now!
So, a new voyage - exciting! Experience and training have equipped us for it - so far! It's been an intriguing year and I've enjoyed writing these Inky Fingers: some may have felt like stringing me up from the yardarm - but I'm still on board! But the sea can still blow up unexpected challenges: we're all on this boat together - welcome aboard, Cap'n!
Yours in fellowship