What do you do on the Sabbath? Whenever that may be. Friday/Saturday/Sunday, they all work for me. And I work on all of them. Because the seventh day has been changed from ‘…ye shall rest’ to ‘…ye shall shop’. That happened when they relaxed Sunday opening hours. Though for some of us its Saturday that’s the problem. And always has been.

Do you go to synagogue, THEN to football? Do you go to church then the pub? Do you pray then hit the brothel?

Ethical questions for our time. People used to be more religious, more observant, but now its the very few that adhere to the strict guidelines.

I went to Tai Chi at 8.15 this morning. That’s more philosophical than religious. The philosophy of ‘hitting people very hard’. From there I went to tennis and only uttered the name of The Lord once, when I hit a ball into the brook. So that probably counts as ‘in vain’, if I’m being strict with myself. As I must.

But what about the French? France is a Catholic country. Because its full of Catholic C-… people. And the catholics are outwardly a very strict bunch. They have issues with everything. Abortions. Crucifixions. Even contraception. Virtually everything is a mortal sin for Catholics except what most of the priests do in their spare time. They love a sin, and they love absolution. Which actually comes very cheaply. A few Hail Marys, a couple How’s ya Fathers and a Francis Ford Coppola and go back, Jack, and do it all again.

So Francoise Hollande went to the Vatican to meet the Pope. I just wonder what they spoke about. Because as the leader of a proudly Catholic nation, Mnsr Le President does not set the best example, from a spiritual standpoint. He’s broken most of the Ten Commandments this week. Its only murder left on his ‘to do’ list. Adultery, coveting thy neighbour’s wife, being a slut, speaking in Tongues (French), pride, gluttony, Jesus he’s a bad boy. Which is why the Pope looked suitably unhappy with the man.

But then just this very afternoon I had a ‘religious experience’. I was sitting in traffic on the Kentish Town Road and a woman was walking towards me. A muslim woman wearing a full face black scarf with the Darth Vader slits for the eyes. And as she drew level with me a gust of wind blew her headscarf upwards. Yes, it temporarily blinded her as she wrestled it down, but I just wondered if this act was, for those of her faith, a ‘Marilyn Monroe’ moment. For those who get off on chins.

Just a thought,

God bless the Sabbath, to keep it holy,

A xxxx