Today we have two different offerings…

The first is a brilliant vid by Joel Baker, made for a Grace service. Here is what Joel has to say;

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

When reading a few verses / passages for inspiration this one really struck out at me. 

As we come to the end of the year we reflect; pulling together end of year playlists, highlights and lowlights, miles run, walked and cycled, goals and achievements. But one thing I haven’t particularly wanted to reflect on is what’s going on in the wider world. It’s pretty depressing.

Sometimes it feels as if we are walking in darkness and could really do with seeing a light. This then was my visual response & exercise. By scraping various headlines from the past year or so, I tried to see if I could shine a light through the noise and give us something to hold onto as we move into 2025.

Joel used this music originally – you might like to swap it out; Ben Frost — Theory of Machines

Next, we have just released the Proost podcast number 13.

In this pod, we talk to Mark Kensett about his 40 year long career as a professional photographer and film maker. Mark has worked extensively in the West Bank and Gaza for different charities, and we wanted to hear about this work, and take the opportunity to reflect on the terrible events in the occupied terrorities.

It can be so hard to form a clear view. There is so much ‘information’ out there, along with counter-information that easily becomes tribal and sectarian. As the discussion was unfolding you can hear my attempts to resolve my own anger and sense of profound impotence and moral injury- fortunately Mark was able to bring clarity and grace to the conversation.

In the show notes we placed a lot of links which may be helpful as you seek to make your own journey into the complexity. Here they are;

You can see some of Mark’s work on his website here.

The Amos Trust website, featuring much of Mark’s work is here

Edukid is here

Mark mentioned this organisation and this book

… Mark’s photography inpiration is this man.

… and finally, Mark and his wife Liane are part of the Kairos movement.