Author Archives: Laura Dobson

“You kneel before meYou remove my shoes and I am exposedMy feet are grimyfull of calluses and crackspungent with sweat and toe jamI’m embarrassed by themI pull back but you reassureYou’re not offendedI feel welcome in your handsvulnerable, yet safeThe cleansing beginsI see your reflection in the ripplesI see me, tooYour water brings truth andContinue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 6th April”

International Day of Conscience “I do not pretend to understand the moral universe, the arc is a long one, my eye reaches but little ways. I cannot calculate the curve and complete the figure by the experience of sight; I can divine it by conscience. But from what I see I am sure it bendsContinue reading “Thought for the day, Wednesday 5th April”

“I have learned to live each day as it comes, and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow.” Dorothea Dix, Unitarian social reformer, born on this day in 1802

“You can’t solve the world’s problems, so don’t try. Instead, focus on what you can do each day to leave this place a little better than you found it.” Jane Goodall, born on this day in 1934 – happy birthday Jane!

“Music is one of the closest link-ups with God that we can probably experience. I think it’s a common vibrating tone of the musical notes that holds all life together.” Marvin Gaye, born on this day in 1939

““What soap is to the body, laughter is to the soul.” Yiddish Proverb “Dear washers-up: Please rinse the teapots and then stand upside down in the sink.” Notice in the kitchen of Unitarian New Meeting, Birmingham” From Fragments of Holiness for Daily Reflection, edited by Catherine Robinson

“To learn the scriptures is easy,to live them, hard.The search for the Realis no simple matter.Deep in my looking,the last words vanished.Joyous and silent,the waking that met me there.” Lalla Ded (1320 – 1392), Kashmiri poet and mystic

“No matter how bad things become, they will eventually get better. In the end, the innate desire of all people for truth, justice and human understanding must triumph over ignorance and despair. So if the Chinese oppressed us, it could only strengthen us.” From Freedom in Exile by the Dalai Lama, who fled to IndiaContinue reading “Thought for the day, Thursday 30th March”

“in Just-spring when the world is mud-luscious the littlelame balloonman whistles far and wee and eddieandbill comerunning from marbles andpiracies and it’sspring when the world is puddle-wonderful the queerold balloonman whistlesfar and weeand bettyandisbel come dancing from hop-scotch and jump-rope and it’sspringandthe balloonMan whistlesfarandwee” E.E. Cummings

“Water soundless, a wandering stream skirts bamboo forest. And west of Bamboo, wildflowers delight in gentle spring.Facing all this under thatch eaves, I sit through the day not a single bird. No song. Mountain quiet goes deeper still.” Wang An-Shih (1021 – 1086)