Dear friends As many of you might know I have the privilege of being one of the many Duty Chaplains at Westminster Abbey a couple of weeks each year. I find this aspect of what I do really engaging, and it gives me an opportunity to be ‘simply’ a Parish Priest all week. Just talking to people and getting alongside them, having some really interesting conversations about life, the world, politics, death, and of course faith. No PCC meetings, endless emails or phone calls, just talking to people, as well as surrounded by all that history.

This article is what that I meant to write in April as I happened to be in London the week after a new statue; ‘Man Blinded by Flag’ – Banksy, was unveiled (well actually was installed in secret overnight) in Waterloo Place, London. Of course, I had to go along and see it, and these two pictures are just a couple of those that I took. But life got in the way and something else was written for the May magazine instead. I was in Westminster again during October and I went back to see if this statue was still there, and it is.

The reason that I am sharing these images is that the statue moves me deeply. You all know that I love art, and so I tend to notice things around art that moves me, and this statue is one of those.

The statue is of a man walking confidently along carrying his flag which has been blown right across his face which therefore blinds him to the drop right in front of him that will either cause him great harm, or, perhaps, even end his life.

BUT the man still carries on, he does not stop to remove the flag so that he can see clearly, he blindly continues striding forward sure of his own confidence that all is well with his world, when in fact all is not well, and his next step will see him fall flat on his face. A message that within the current political climate is, I think, very relevant. I also have to admit that I too often walk blindly forward unaware of the trip hazard right in front of me, and I suspect many of you will do this as well. BUT if we do not step out then life becomes dull, unfulfilled, safe, regulated. So, the statue also reminds me of a Christian taking a ‘Leap of Faith’ stepping out into the unknown, but aware that God will support us if we are truly doing his work in the world. This ‘Leap of Faith’ is, for me, clearly shown in the film ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ where Indiana has to take leap of faith over a canyon to prove that he is worthy of obtaining the Holy Grail. I suspect that many of our own leaps of faith are not quite so risky, nor do we take the steps blindly, but we know that there will be risks involved. However, at some stage we all must step out into the unknown, in faith, and in hope, trusting always that God is constantly by our side, guiding and directing us on life’s crooked pathway. Not having blind faith, but faith that God is there supporting us.

I pray that your next leap of faith is truly blessed by God, and that through it you experience the love that God has in his heart for you.

On a different note, when I am in Westminster Abbey, I do get to be there when there are no visitors which

becomes a very prayerful time for me, as well as allowing me to see the art and memorials up close. These are

just two of the pictures I took on my last visit – the cross is that of the RAF Chapel right at the East end of the

Abbey, most people do not notice it as there is a very small walkway in front of it which is full of visitors moving

around the Lady Chapel. The Icon of Christ is at the West end, and is normally surrounded by visitors, which

again means that people really do not get to see it, the votive candle stand in front is full of candles lit by visitors

praying just 45 minutes after the doors open to the general public.

With all Gods Blessings

Robert