Q Marks the Spot 148 (February 2021 Treasure Map)

Sacred Treasure

If you haven’t yet come across her or her work, then the time has come, Ruth Naomi Floyd is a precious friend and here she’s interviewed on Jonathan Rogers’ The Habit podcast.
This is a beautifully poignant reflection in verse of the story of Simeon and Anna in the Temple – by renowned scholar Richard Bauckham. I love the painting/collage by South African Sam Nhlengethwa too.
George Parsons, musicologist, theologian and friend, has started blogging again. Here’s his music for ‘sad’ times
Such joy: the infectious exuberance of some Dutch boys after liberation from Nazism (right) caught by photographer Menno Huizinga
Phil Whittall recommends this Climate Emergency Toolkit for churches – have just signed up. Crucial to be thinking about this if not already.
Malcolm Guite’s new anthology of poems is now out: David’s Crown – love this piece
Inspired by the viral image from a while back (the world as 100 people) this brilliant infographic from Gordon Conwell helps to break down the reality that is the world’s Christian population (ie 2.5 billion): the World as 100 Christians

Information is Beautiful is such a good site – here they update their Covid infographics
They never taught these things at school: ultra-necessary life hacks. You just never know when you might need to kick down a door or gird up your loins.
Haunting images of the Romanovs in 1903 – frozen in time without the slightest intimation of the horrors to come nor, it seems, of the ghastly deprivations that beset the population and catalysed the revolution.
It’s straight out of le Carré – getting the inside info on Putin’s palace by the sea.

Actually I rather disagree! Mediaeval artists had quite a nice lion in lions as it happens…!
How the Oval Office decor has changed with each president. This is the kind of stuff we need to keep informed.
Your day needs these penguins. Guaranteed.