I just remembered - years ago I went to a 'retreat' in the course of which we were instructed to draw on a large sheet of paper different images of ourselves in the course of our lives.

I found it a pleasing exercise. It became an almost mindless thing. In the middle of the things I drew, I sketched a child, maybe one year old, sitting with a ball on its lap.

But when the others saw it, they loved it and kept telling me that I had captured it all- a human being with the world on its lap.

I demurred, saying I had only drawn a ball.

But on inspection I had to agree- I had clearly drawn a couple of continents on my 'ball'.

?