Sometimes you wonder why your name happens to end up on an invitation list, and sometimes you wish it hadn't. This week I found myself invited to a London reception put on by the Institute for Religion and Society in Asia - posh venue, posh food, left feeling hungry! But is was a good evening, I met up with a whole range of friends and colleagues, and I was glad I was invited.

The IRSA was set up by Dr. Charles Hancock and began with a clear focus on the role of religion is Chinese Society post-Maxism. (They are widening this to include most of Asia now, which I think is a mistake - but that's another story.) The presentations were mixed but I came away clutching Charles' final words which are worth further rumination. He said:

Faith is changing the face of China

Faith will be slow to change the heart of China

China is quick to try to change the face of faith

China is vulnerable to the reality of spirituality.

Walking out onto the rain drenched streets of London with their crowd barriers and heavy police presence (President Hamid Karzai was in town and Tony Blair was due at the Iraq enquir the next day) I wondered ...... How vulnerable is Britain to the reality of spirituality?

Civilised flying

Like many who spend too much of their time travelling, the novelty of airports and aircraft wore off years ago. In fact I find it hard to think of a more inconvenient place to be than an airport lounge or an economy seat at 30,000ft. This said I was delighted to find this sign when travelling in China a couple of years ago. If only the reality had matched up to the promise. I was reminded of this photo today whilst talking with the person who runs the 'China desk' at Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. (Here it is Lawrence!) Perhaps after Easter it is a good reminder that the Christian faith has often been seen as bringing a 'civilising' influence into societies, although I would prefer 'humanising' (in the full Christological sense). As an 'expert' on airport endurance perhaps I ought to devote my next years of ministry to evangelising airports and making them 'God friendly spaces' - 'civilized airports'?