Inevitably on such a momentous day as Brexit Day the mind turned to Anniversaries.
If you are of a Brexiteer mindset the gift to Brexit Day appeared to lie in the very heart of London. For January 31st was the anniversary of the unveiling of Nelson'e column (1867) in Trafalgar Square.
And what greater affirmation of Britain's independence from - and hostility to - European domination could Brexit Day want than that?
Nelson's story is a lot more complicated than that though. It illustrates why it is hopeless to deal with issues like Brexit in a binary way.
Here is one of his later life signatures, and following his appointment as a Duke in Italy he proudly added Bronte - he was Duke of Bronte - to his signature until the day he died.
Here is one of his later life signatures, and following his appointment as a Duke in Italy he proudly added Bronte - he was Duke of Bronte - to his signature until the day he died.
Europe, for Nelson, was a mixture of good and bad; sometimes an enemy, sometimes a friend - both his proud boast in Naples and his personal nemesis at Trafalgar.
For every Christian this world is always something like that. As 'strangers in the world' and citizens of another (heavenly) country the journey here is filled with good and bad. Our Lord was feted at feasts and crucified at Calvary, listened to by crowds and disobeyed by close disciples.
No delight or disaster in this world is of the depth of being rightly or wrongly positioned for the world to come.
For every Christian this world is always something like that. As 'strangers in the world' and citizens of another (heavenly) country the journey here is filled with good and bad. Our Lord was feted at feasts and crucified at Calvary, listened to by crowds and disobeyed by close disciples.
No delight or disaster in this world is of the depth of being rightly or wrongly positioned for the world to come.
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