August 2017 – Learning How to Live

Be Led by Love (2011)

Jane Blackall Uncategorised 28th August 20173rd September 2017

In 2011 I co-edited ‘Kindred Pilgrim Souls’, a collection of short reflections written by members of my congregation, and the following is my own contribution to that book, on a belief which has shaped my life (and which continues to do so).

I believe in letting myself be led by love.

Connection with other souls is the most precious thing in life – lovers, friends, companions, teachers, mentors – those people I have been intimately entangled with, those whose lives I have only briefly touched, and still others (artists, writers, broadcasters) who I have only ‘met’ through their work.

This I Believe (2011)

Jane Blackall Uncategorised 28th August 20173rd September 2017

In 2011 I co-edited ‘Kindred Pilgrim Souls’, a collection of short reflections written by members of my congregation, and the following is my own statement of belief at that time. Most of it still stands, more-or-less.

I believe… we are all one. All beings are interconnected and interdependent and so the least of our actions may have infinitely far-reaching consequences. We must always consider the effect of our deeds on others and aim to cause less harm and do more good.

On Being Wrong

Jane Blackall Sermons and Talks 6th August 20176th August 2017

Sermon #23 (6th August 2017 at Essex Church / Kensington Unitarians)

Digging Holes, Falling in, and Getting Out Again

Today is the first Sunday in our month on ‘Triumph and Disaster’. The particular sort of disaster that I want us to think about today is the sort which can happen when we make mistakes. Of course a mistake need not be a disaster – most mistakes are easily fixed (if we notice we’ve made them) and soon forgotten – but I’m particularly thinking about the times when a little mistake turns into a big one: when we make things worse by digging in our heels, refusing to admit we are wrong, compounding the error, missing the chance to change our mind, or change our ways, and digging ourselves a ruddy great hole in the process.

We all make mistakes. Hopefully we can agree on that much, to start with! Mistakes can be big or small, inconsequential or catastrophic, and it’s not always obvious which is which. Sometimes we can find an apparently small mistake has turned into a giant snowball rolling downhill, getting away from us somehow, and wreaking havoc to all in its path.