Unchanging things - for good and for ill

I went to St John's City Parish Church this morning to celebrate the noon Eucharist, for Canon Sarah as she needed to be away. There were only five of us, and a couple of people seated out in the nave, who didn't join in, but stayed quietly, while others came and went. It's seven and a half years since I left, but it was as if time had stood still when I looked out over the altar into the church. That's not so much about remembering the past and the people who were here with me then. It's more about that persistent sense of presence, despite the noise of people coming and going outside, or a busking saxophonist bleating romantic melodies somewhere behind the East window. It's as if the building is silently listening to the passing world, and gently drawing you in, persuading to you pay attention, despite the bubble and clamour of thoughts and feelings within yourself.  It's such a gift to the city.

I went home for lunch, then later returned to town and visited the office for a couple of hours, to work on another document for Ashley, and discuss the current state of affairs, now that a competing security radio system has been foisted on users without anyone realising what problems this is likely to cause for city security and safety, not least because of the way this has come about, to the discredit of those entrusted with the welfare of this city. It has caused me lose respect for our local government and leading public 'servants'. I have heard people who know well how other cities in Britain operate declare that behind the illusions of modernity, nothing much has changed in Cardiff in forty years. Despite pretence and public relations exercises, power is still being exercised without genuine accountability. Nowadays, for better and for worse, we have social media. When people get fed up with being used and manipulated, who knows what'll come out next?