Jillian Reay-Smith
The Beyond-ness and Within-ness of God:
A reflection on Mary’s song
Some moments from the Christmas story loom large in my imagination. The shuffling of feet
through Bethlehem’s darkened streets in search of lodging. A new baby, all skin creases and
twitching muscles laid in a makeshift bed. Shepherds on a hillside shocked and awed by light
and song. A star shining brighter than those around it.
There is also another significant moment, precluding these nativity scenes. It’s two women, one
young and one old, looking at each other wide-e
Jenni Stoddart
Reflecting on Retro, name tags, nursing home ignominy and the hope of the end of ends
Earlier this year I attended a weekend camp where the students I teach had been wearing retro. Their retro is fashion of my youth. They look like the characters in Friends. Mules,
floral prints, printed t-shirts and 501’s are back. Perhaps not evidence for the circle of life
but a reminder to me that I am dated by the circle of fashion. I was wearing my own piece
of retro a beautiful old 1960’s scarf – the right red with a touch of green which somehow
avoids descending in
