benbell

Mental Fight

The Ash Wednesday service at St.Paul’s contained a reading from ‘Mental Fight’ by Ben Okri. Although I’d heard a few things about this work I’d never read it until now. I’ve bought a copy for myself and it’s amazing. This poem is reflective and visionary, it carries a challenge that resonates with the subversive nature of the Kingdom of God.

 

 A couple of quotes,

Ben Okri’s epic poem mental Fight is an intimate song of rage and restoration. It speaks to each new moment and each person. Like sunlight or lie pain. It is an anthem to our ascending dreams, and a hymn of inspiration.

No contemporary writer has raised greater passions than Okri – the Guardian.

Ash Wednesday and all that jazz

I’ve just been to a fantastic Ash Wednesday service at St Paul's Cathedral The setting for the service was ‘A Little Jazz Mass’ by Bob Chilcott. The service included a number of fantastic Jazz pieces and was followed by a recital of Jazz and Blues.

This service linked brilliantly with the new Slave Britain exhibition. The exhibition is well put together, informative and provoking – well worth a visit.

Belonging

I’ve just been with some young people to visit the exhibition ‘Belonging' held at the Museum of London .

LondonThis thought-provoking exhibition challenges assumptions about refugees and explores the contributions they make to London

Find out what it means to be a refugee - to be forced to leave your country and to build a new life in exile.  Hear powerful personal stories and see objects, photographs, film and art that bring home tales of loss, adaptation and achievement.

The exhibition is on until the 25^th February as is well worth checking out. It’s got loads of stories to listen to on headphones so is really good for people who aren’t up for reading much (like most of the young people I know). The exhibition seemed to be a good tool to help young people explore and tell their own stories of seeking refuge.

Let there be light

I had to chuckle when I saw the YouTube clip of Graham Kings setting fire to his sermon notes. I've chuckled again now it's made national news! It's in the Sun
I guess he can tick 'appearing in the Sun' off his to do list now.