We like Dalmatians because of their spots. Carriage-dogs may be a thing of the past, along with the carriages they ran alongside but they were a fashion accessory for the carriage owner who had everything. We came to like Appaloosas for the same reason: animals with spots look distinctive. Palominos may have girls new to a stables in raptures – and they are indeed beautiful animals – but spots are likely to win in the end.
Humans don’t have spots – at least not of the cosmetically acceptable kind. Perhaps we might make a better impression if we did. The leopard certain made an impression on half a dozen biblical writers. As for those animals that in general have no spots there is almost a wistful air when a biblical man of the turf expresses wonder that the Babylonian horses are faster than leopards (Habakkuk 1.8).
If spots can inspire affection in animals – and we might say the same about peacocks despite their strident cackling – what characteristics can we human display that will do better? We come with varied colour hair and eyes but there is sameness about us otherwise.
‘No!’ cries the gardener when he sees the black spot on his rosebushes. ‘No!’ cries the pirate as he hands out the black spot in ‘Treasure Island’ There are beauty spots and accident black spots We don’t talk about them.
But we do talk about being on the spot when it matters. That includes helping somebody up when he has fallen over and speaking up for a mate when everybody else is against him. Does that have a familiar ring? It might well. ‘Proverbs 18.24 has ‘Some companions are good only for idle talk, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.’i.e. someone who is always on the spot. Where is this taking us? To Hebrews 13.5? It is not unseemly to say that Jesus was and is on the spot for us (Hebrews 7.25).
SIBSEY BOOKSHELVES
Having obtained £500 from the diocesan transformation fund, Sibsey parish church, Lincolnshire is preparing to install and stock bookshelves in the parish church as a free facility for parishioners. Books will be available daily at the community library. The Vicar, Clive Todd, sustains a 42-page magazine for 17 scattered communities. It features Ernest Shackleton’s anniversary among its items this month.
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