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“For those in peril on the sea …”

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Storm coming in tonight. A taste of what we’re told we’ll see a lot more of.

Standing on the gnarled Cornish coast, looking out at rocks that have been eroded by storms for centuries beyond centuries, is so humbling. The drama is everywhere. Not parading itself, but just there – evidence of the power of nature and its consequences.

Now it seems that nature’s power is growing, or channelling in new ways, with the consequences becoming more widespread. It is bigger than us, and it’s changing its patterns. The knowledge is unnerving. Bad enough on land. How must it feel to be at sea? These words keep coming to mind “… for those in peril on the sea …”

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.

The hymn was written by William Whiting (1825 -1878). It’s said that he’d experienced danger at sea first hand, so when a boy at the college in Winchester where he was master, grew anxious about crossing the ocean, Whiting wrote what would later become this hymn to help calm the boy – a prayer for him to hold on to.

I can’t imagine that Whiting had any idea how apt his words would sound two decades into this millennium.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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A viewpoint – a point of view – a pause

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I walked past these open gates a few weeks ago, and stopped. I had never seen through them before, or if I had I did not stop. On this particular day I paused and took this photograph. Perhaps it was the light that caught my attention.

I suppose it is the same with all viewpoints. As I tap my way through my year of daily blogging, rattling on about life as it crosses my path, I have in my mind the vague hope that perhaps something might catch the attention of someone scrolling past. Perhaps they might slow down a little and look in for a few seconds. Perhaps some angle will catch their eye. Who knows?

But, if not, the views and the viewpoints still existed – little pauses in the swirl of my life at least.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023

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Are we losing the power of speech?

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There is such a deep pleasure in conversation – the old-fashioned face to face kind. I assumed it would be with us forever and ever … until today.

Today we were discussing children’s literature and the role of dialogue in it. Various examples were shared, and the skill of the writers soon became obvious. In only a few lines, sometimes just a few words, or even a shrug of the shoulders characters came alive, and plot crept tighter. The more we read, the more in awe we were of the hand-picked genius presented to us.

“When I started writing I was told that about 70% of a middle grade book would be dialogue,” our teacher told us.

70%! How did they do it? We analysed and learned, seeing what we’d never noticed before.

“You can always pick up speech patterns and tips from listening to conversations on public transport,” our teacher added, as our lesson neared its end. “Although,” she sighed, “everyone is on their mobiles these days.”

The thought hit me in the heart. She was right. The whole world was going quiet. Might we lose the art of talking to each other in person?

For me the idea is almost too extraordinary to comprehend. I hope it never comes to be.

Copyright Georgie Knaggs & The Phraser 2023