My wife, Wendy, is a community artist. She often has to apply to funders to raise money for the projects she works on. We live in Scotland (by half a mile), her office is in England (Berwick-upon-Tweed) and work comes from both sides of the Border.

Funders do not understand how Borders really work. They see them as hard and fast lines,rather than broad corridors.

So they say, “We’re an English funder, so you can’t spend our money in Scotland.” or “Scottish money can’t be spent on English projects.”

Sounds good and right…but what if your artists are drawn from both sides…if a Scottish artist works in an English school can you pay them with English money etc. I’ve simplified the arguements but that’s how it works. And it happens in other areas of public life.

I thought I saw some reflection of my ‘private’ life here as well, sometimes the boundaries here are broader than well-defined lines too. For example, I am a convinced and long-term Christian, but I try to have the humility to admit that often faith and doubt/uncertainty appear in equal measure, and that I think that’s OK. Of course, that approach never pleases those for whom faith is a cut and dried, black and white issue. Experience also tells me that at times in my life when I’m experiencing the most joy I’m often also feeling more than a little of it’s flip-side…pain!

If only life could be as simple as lines on a map…