Thought for the Day

As delivered (pre-recorded) to the Breakfast Show at BBC Radio Bristol this morning:

In 1895 history was made when a statue was erected to commemorate Edward Colston, some 174 years after his death. A year ago history was made when the statue was deposited in the harbour by some people - frustrated at a failure to acknowledge the truth of the despicable slave-trade which made him wealthy. A dramatic event moved the narrative on.

I was taught much that turned out to be wrong. The teachers weren't trying to confuse me. But their handle on the truth, then, was short of perfect.

Once people saw the Bible as true story. Then theologians and biblical scholars developed skills and found that it contains history, drama, fiction, poetry, proverbs, biography and the wonderfully named - apocalyptic. Source material for historians - yes; but not all strictly factual.

Once people thought the Earth was flat, the planets revolved around it and God lived up in the clouds.

Those things were never true. God-locating is notoriously tricky.

It is not for Thought for the Day to pronounce on controversial matters. But it is the job to remind us all to revisit things we have always thought true. Otherwise historians will enjoy reminding the world that we were wrong.

Thought for the Day

As delivered at BBC Radio Bristol just now on the breakfast show. The subjects in paragraph four are all stories from today's show:

Let me tell you the best way to hit a target. Find a wall with a bit of give in the plaster. Throw a dart at it. Now take a marker pen and draw a target around the point of impact. Bingo. Bulls-eye.

I've been doing ready, fire aim most of my life. It's a plausible approach as long as you are good at inventing a reason for that thing you just did.

In Christian ministry people are always looking for a way to count success. Which was more important - the 40 or so people who came to church on Sunday morning or the seven young people who came to a small discipleship group for teenagers later that day? If I miss a Christmas party for 100 homeless because I'm called to the bedside of one sick parishioner who might die, how will that look?

So what should we count to see how life in Bristol is going? We want that education, health and care plan figure to go up. It sounds like it's the only way it could go. We want more pianos in public spaces - well I do anyway. Pianos bring me joy. We want violence to go down and trees to grow up.

I've never scrutinised the purpose driven ministry of Jesus against his goals but it seems to me he kept planning to go to Jerusalem and was constantly distracted by people needing food, healing and advice. His ministry development review would probably have been disappointing. Jesus of Nazareth - stick to your mission action plan.

So here's a prayer for statisticians everywhere. At election time we need you to tell us how we are doing. And if we've improved. But that isn't everything.

Iconic Sanctity

Don't worry. The title isn't a belated attempt at a googlewhack.

There was a discussion on the radio yesterday morning (BBC Radio Bristol) about the Massive Attack gig on Clifton Downs last Saturday. I was phoned to offer an opinion.

During the course of the debate one contributor (who was clearly against it ever having happened) suggested that Clifton Downs is 'an iconic place' and its 'sanctity' should not be spoiled in this way.

I won't rehearse the for and against of the gig. I was there. It was wet. It was enjoyable. It was not my experience that it was badly organised but it was for some.

I want to discuss being iconic. For me the use of the word 'iconic' in this way suggests a thing that can be made to stand for something larger. When you see a picture of it you think of the bigger picture. The Clifton Suspension Bridge is iconic. An image of it across the gorge stands for Bristol. Maybe with balloons flying over it. I don't think the Downs pass this test. A picture of the Downs does not speak of Bristol. I could not pick our Downs out of a downs line-up.

Secondly 'sanctity'. This word has two uses. The first is 'holy' or 'sacred'. I don't think this is true of the Downs. Second is 'ultimate importance and inviolability'. I imagine this is what the speaker refers to.

How do places become ultimately important and inviolable? Shared memories? Repeat events? Unique use? And what places a gig for 20,000 people on the no list but Sunday football and dog-walking on the yes?

I don't think the caller is saying anything more than 'I don't like this kind of thing'. I do.

Cathedrals are iconic and places of sanctity. But if they didn't have event-memories soaked into the bricks they would be nothing.

The big wheel keeps on turning
On a simple line day by day
The earth spins on its axis
One man struggle while another relaxes.

(Hymn of the Big Wheel - Massive Attack)

Thought for the Day

As delivered this morning at BBC Radio Bristol:

There is a wonderful feel-good factor about living around Bristol at the moment. Sorry Rovers fans, but you'll bounce back.

We are acquiring a reputation for creativity and fun. Food connections. Harbourside gatherings. Festivals of ideas. Grommet spotting. Banksy edginess. We mainly agree, with a few exceptions, that it is good to stop the traffic and have a massive water slide. There is a buzz about the place.

We were even trending on Twitter at the weekend. No mean feat. Bristol was one of the top ten things being talked about in the whole world. For a bit, anyway.

I think one of the keys to this has been its glorious unpredictability. I love it when people do innovative things. Come up with ideas to get people having fun. Or just have a moment or two being bonkers.

Jesus' disciples once came up to him to explain there was a queue of people in the village wanting to be healed. His reply gets little publicity. He said, 'Let's go somewhere else.' No-one expected that. And when a wedding party ran out of wine he didn't speak about the evils of alcohol - we're told he made a ridiculously excessive amount more. Top quality stuff at that. Christians as killjoys? You're having a laugh aren't you?

Some people follow leaders because of their shrewd strategies. Others choose excellent example-setters. But face it; we quite like following those whose next action is always a mystery to us. We have no idea what they will do and follow to find out.

So come on Brizzle, South Gloucester, Bath, North Somerset; what crazy thing shall we do next? All thoughts welcome. And talking of crazy things...

...hands back to Steve le Fevre, presenter.

Cabot Circus

Spent a pleasant two hours wandering around Bristol's new Cabot Circus complex. Whilst it has welcomed many chains and few independents we now have a Harvey Nics and the Paul Smith pin-striped suit looked excellent. That and a smart light blue shirt and wonderful tie would be the same price as the forthcoming trip to Japan.

Also enjoyed Bloomsburys excellent greetings cards and mugs, got given a glass of champagne in Ghost and Mrs T found the comparison between her Cargo and new-to-Bristol Dwell fascinating.

Dwell seems to have cheap furniture in a magnificent setting with brilliantly-trained staff. It was nice to see a shop with so little point-of-sale (posters, banners etc) just simple design and a blank canvas shop-floor. And the staff greeted us but didn't sell to us. They let their well-displayed stock do the work. Perhaps they should have captured our names and addresses though. Cargo quality is much higher so Dwell my end up with disappointed customers. Let's see.

Architecture of Cabot Circus is breath-taking, especially the huge glass roof with its abseiling window cleaners looking like Matrix patrol-bots about to break through.

Bristol Harbourside Festival

Live music, street theatre, wonderful food market, great atmosphere, on-water events and a sunny day. Enjoyed a fantastic four hours wandering round yesterday. Next year will spend longer at this excellent event. Next year all family and friends are invited to join us. Highlights.

• A succession of musicians on the acoustic stage entertaining the crowd with songs about death and suffering.
• Two comedy gymnasts doing handstands, on rubber bricks, on upright parallel bars whilst holding lit sparklers between their bum cheeks. Honest.
• Had cassoulet for lunch. Tastes nicer than it spells.