Canal Bank

This was taken whilst cycling on the canal bank between Bradley and Farnhill; the only hints of civilisation being the long-forgotton purpose of the canal and a modern housing development in the very distance. As mud accummulated in my gears, getting along the track was incredibly tough so, on a particularly slidy section, I had the sense to jump off and get a snap.

This is my favourite part of the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and before today I don't think I understood why properly. Ironically, five metres left by five metres deep is a busy road which snakes alongside the canal. And yet this image seems so tranquil, so forgotten, so ancient. There's a natural ambience surrounding the opposite side of the bank which counteracts the canal-shaped effect of man on the hillside. And I've always known that.

But today I realised why it meant so much more to me. I went to see The Hobbit today with my Gran (amazing film) and I had the concept of Middle-Earth in the back of my mind. And then I remembered a Blue Peter feature about Tolkein's inspiration behind the Shire which must have been released as Fellowship of the Ring first came out. Ancient, raw, natural. The Shire and the canal banking share these characteristics.
And the more I think about it, so does my faith. As humans, we yearn for creation and purpose and this was one way, even before I became a Christian, I did so.

Tolkein was a Christian and Middle-Earth and Lord of the Rings can be read as an allegory of his faith. Not quite as blatantly as CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia it must be said but it can all the same. Seldomly, whilst watching the Hobbit, was I struck by this overarching allegory but a line particularly stood out.

"Simple love and kindness, Bilbo, can keep the darkness at bay" Gandalf. Not quite Paul but truth nevertheless.