Rules for the conduct of blogging: I

As Advent approaches, it strikes me that some of us on this blog might be in need of a little spiritual direction. When I became a freeman of the City of London some years ago, courtesy of my great friend and mentor Sir Sigmund Sternberg, I was handed a little red book, Rules for the Conduct of Life, on how freemen and apprentices should conduct themselves in society. I've decided that many of us here, me included, could learn from reflecting on these at some depth. There are XXXVI of them, that is one for every day until the New Year. So every day from now til then, you're going to get one. These can be our adventorial exercises. Please learn, think and spiritually digest. And may we all begin 2009 on a slightly more civil footing.

To get you into a more meditative mood than that which has pertained recently on this blog, I recommend that while reading the First Rule of Life, you listen to this recording of Ave Maria, sung by Wapping Great Voices, the News International Choir, at our concert this week. Composer Jacques Arcadelt.

By striving to find harmony in the alto section, when really I would rather be hitting the easy high notes as a soprano, I was consciously trying to practice what I am preaching here. Yes it's easy to belt out an operatic top line, just as it's good to have opinions and voice them forcefully, especially in the temptingly-glorious acoustic of an Hawksmoor church such as our St George-in-the-East in Wapping. But please everyone, just try to be a little nicer. I felt much better after singing alto, partly because it was so much more difficult, but mainly because it actually produced a nicer sound. My soprano can be a bit overbearing.

All credit, incidentally, to WGV conductor David Stratkauskas, director of music at St Michael's Wandsworth Common, who really has performed miracles with us hacks.

And yes, I am preaching at you today, but my dad was a vicar, so what d'you expect.

Rule I

Whatever you at any time intend to do, consider the end which you therein propose to yourself, and be sure that it be always really good, or at least innocent. He who does anything, and knows not why or wherefore, acts foolishly: and he who aims at an unlawful end acts wickedly, which is the worst sort of folly.

If you are careful always to observe this fundamental rule, you will thereby avoid many sins which would disturb your conscience, and also many trifling actions which would tend to your discredit, or trouble your repose.

Comments

[peter wood]

Im afraid your idea that "belting out" an operatic top line is easy shows how little you know about singing. The Hawksmoor church is a masterpiece of delicacy, as I'm sure you'll agree, but then so is the right approach to achieving a fine voice.

[cp36]

To Fr Mark,

>>cp36: but preaching is not the same as journalism.

Journalists have the power to influence people for good or evil.

All Christians are called to be the salt and light of the world regardless of the job they are doing.

Cheers

[Bob Ayers]

Very good, Ruth. Your calm and centering much appreciated, and applied.

Bob Ayers

[P. Dangwer]

I will personally run through any one who insults the fail lady Ruth or my name is not P Dangwer Slayer of Dragons.

[ElizabethR]

"I have decided personally that I will respond with as much charity and goodwill as I can muster, to any issue that someone wants to discuss honestly, and I will not reply to things that are not intended in that spirit." J

Oh my giddy aunt! What do you want, a life in which you merely 'respond', having drawn up a list and filtered out the bits you don't like?

Ignore them. And if I bother you ignore me. This is a blog, not a judicial enquiry! Dream up something 'quite interesting' and start it off. There are plenty of threads to choose from. Academic?

[j]

Dont give up Ruth.

I have decided personally that I will respond with as much charity and goodwill as I can muster, to any issue that someone wants to discuss honestly, and I will not reply to things that are not intended in that spirit.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.

[Geoffrey Smith]

As I was saying, Ruth, 2009...

[ElizabethR]

Hell's teeth! I simply can't compete with the epigrammic wit and sparkling repartee Geoffrey. With your cutting-edge hilarity and almost Wildean delivery you are lost on this funny little blog.

Broaden out; send some jokes to wobbly old Cardinal Murphy O'Wotsit. He looks as if he needs a good laugh (possibly ever since he realised someone had Christened him 'Cormack'!).

Edinburgh festival beckons. (It would mean having your computer surgically removed however, and you would have to learn to smile. Borrow one of Dave's mirrors and start by saying cheeeese...)

[Geoffrey Smith]

"And you do have a bloody nerve."
- ElizabethR, 27 NOV 2008, 19:50:51

Ah, you've noticed!

[Geoffrey Smith]

Sorry, TTH (28 NOV 2008, 01:29:39),
I must have missed that. Please explain.

[Geoffrey Smith]

"Cracking good read though, while you're waiting for a frontal lobotomy."
- ElizabethR, 27 NOV 2008, 19:50:51

Would you like to have my place in the queue, Liz? Thy need is greater than mine.

[Fr Mark]

cp36: but preaching is not the same as journalism.

[cp36]

>>And yes, I am preaching at you today, but my dad was a vicar, so what d'you expect.

Hi Ruth,

I already know that you are a vicar's daughter. Am very happy about that. :-)

Go ahead and preach. England needs a fresh move of the God's Holy Spirit again. The world is so sin-sick and nobody seems to know what to do now. I don't believe they are going to solve the problems and it will probably get worse.

"On Thee our hopes we fix, God save us all". (From the second verse of God Save the Queen).

Cheers

[The Truth Hurts]

Now Now Geoffrey, don't be like that.
At least now that the cover has been blown on that chap (the Irgun admirer) who is a tourist guide in San Francisco, we are all more civil to each other.

[Christopher]

Oh dear, Ruth. You can lead a horse to water....

[j]

ps I am an alto.

[j]

GS, I think one good general rule would be to ignore unpleasant comments, whoever makes them. We have many interesting things to address together, we need not sink to fighting one another- but it is in our own hands, how we reply to one another.

[ElizabethR]

Since it's still 2008...

Find someone who gives a snip Geoffrey! And you do have a bloody nerve. Mind you, the new rules should cut down the 'content' of your own posts by about 98%. Cracking good read though, while you're waiting for a frontal lobotomy...

[Geoffrey Smith]

"And may we all begin 2009 on a slightly more civil footing."
- Ruth, 27 NOV 2008, 03:23 PM

I'm afraid, Ruth, with the incursion of ElizabethR onto your blog, 2009 will be no different from 2008.