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Symmetry 10.10.10.

I love the symmetry of today's date, don't you? We are all much more deeply affected by form than we realise. Quietnun has said elsewhere that it was reflecting on the Periodic table that brought her to a sense of God. For me, it was the breath-taking beauty of a medieval Cistercian church.

We take joy is so many things, the form of which is in itself a wonder and delight. Here, in no particular order, are some of those which spring to mind this Sunday morning and cause me to give thanks: the symmetry of today's date, as I said before; the mathematical harmonies of a Bach prelude; the beauty of a well-set page; the elegant design of the monastery's Mac (yes, Apple, we'll cheerfully accept a fee for puffing your products); the perfect balance of Duncan's head; the fine stonework over the way; the magnificent oak we see from the kitchen window; the poem I read yesterday evening; the armoured back of the little wood louse scuttling over the floor.

Form matters, but it is still a mystery we only half-understand even as we feel its effect. I'm sure there's an important analogy there, but I leave you to work it out for yourself.

(No podcast this week as we have an online Virtual Chapter on Thursday at 7.30 pm GMT. Do join us if you can.)