We are back in the country where bicycles are a respected mode of transport. In Gillingham, our street was packed with cars taking children to school every morning, but here the rush hour mainly takes place on the bicycle path. This morning I heard a lot of noise and saw that it came from children …
How healthy is a vegan diet?
Happy World Animal Day! This morning we were driving on the Dutch motorway, with all of our belongings in a trailer. A bright orange sun was rising over the meadows, where the fog still covered the grass. On the radio was a lot of news about animals. The news reader reported that 65% of Dutch …
Leaving
It is Thursday morning, 8 o’clock. With a huge watermelon in my backpack and a full shopping bag hanging at the handlebar, I cycle through Gillingham on Freddy’s bicycle. I deliver the big bag at the charity shop halfway, but the melon is coming with me to work. It will be part of our farewell …
The Way of the Leaf
After a tropical week it seems like the autumn has finally begun here in Gillingham. Time for an autumn story from Thich Nhat Hanh. He tells us that he is in the park, completely absorbed in the contemplation of a small leaf. He spents a long time questioning the leaf, and finds out that the …
Theology at sea
Last week, we have been sailing on the Dutch IJsselmeer and the Wadden Sea. We enjoyed the panoramic views with beautiful cloud formations. Birds could be seen everywhere, looking for fish or busy keeping an eye on their children. The moon rose full and bright orange when we anchored at the Lorenz locks. The weather …
Action from hope
Yesterday I went to a workshop at St Ethelburga’s, a church in the heart of the City of London that has developed into a center for reconciliation and peacebuilding. The title of the workshop was “Kickstart a Spiritual Ecology Hub” — something that I would eventually like to do in the Netherlands. With about 25 …