Truth

Paddy Uglow

We were asked in our workshop to think about what brought us to Bristol. Thinking about the many things that I like in Bristol got me thinking about the journey that brought me to my current state of mind, faith and opinions; the ways I’d changed inside my head over the last twenty years.

Further Info | Transcript | Credits

Further Info

This story was made on a five-day digital storytelling workshop for members of Watershed staff and local artists, led by Ruth Jacobs, Liz Milner and Beth Trimmer,

The course took place at Watershed during May 2005 and was supported by Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives.

Transcript

[Music plays throughout]

[Singing] “Everybody’s looking for the truth,
And there are so many under one roof.
Everybody’s wondering why.
All just the pieces of the same pie.”

I think I first consciously encountered God when I was thirteen. A whole bunch of us went to a mission at Cornwall Coliseum. We all started going to Bible studies and prayer meetings, trying to do it all properly and believe all the ‘right’ things.

When I became depressed in my late teenage years I tried to lean on all that, but I found so many empty phrases and meaningless rituals; questions with answers I didn’t like.

I started seeing a counsellor, and stopped going to prayer meetings. I read books and wrote poetry. I went to silent Quaker meetings.

[Singing] “Some of them will tell you what to do,
Others leave it up to you.”

And after a long struggle, I’m not sure if I’m still a Christian, but there’s a spark that is behind everything that is worthwhile. It’s the measure of everything we do.

[Singing] “Don’t stop loving each other.
Children, love one another. Don’t stop.”

Credits

All media not otherwise credited created by the story author, or permission obtained, used under copyright licence.