... and smells

As you probably know, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and I wanted to go to a service somewhere or other. As I was near the Cathedral I thought I would drop in there for the evening service. I hadn't quite expected that it would be a service with all the bells and whistles, but the Dean preached in His normal thought-provoking and soul-feeding way and the worship was rich.

I looked up half way through, though, at the faces of the congregation seated opposite me. I couldn't decide if they were miserable or bored from the expression on their faces. However it then occurred to me that maybe they were neither... maybe the solemn look on the face was sobriety and reflection.

And so the incense rose in billows, the service progressed and then the fire alarm went off... repeatedly. Bells and smells or what? And in the midst of sobriety came humour. Somehow it rounded the circle and I realised that not only do I need both dynamics but I also ought ought not to run away from either.