Seeker

I take delight in odd or ambiguous signposts. These are in a garden on the Mount of Beatitudes in the Galilee, Israel. I was on retreat near here last month. Here with a refreshing water feature I saw one of my favourite Bible verses, words of Jesus from John 7: 37 - 38 . Right beside this open invitation from Jesus for anyone who is thirsty to come to him and drink, was the warning 'Water not for drink'. Kindly meant and with a view to the health and safety of visitors no doubt, but it did set me off wondering about the contradictory messages the church often gives and individual Christians present. "Come to Jesus...but don't..." What contradictory or ambiguous Christian signs have you seen? Have you experienced a church 'welcome' that turns out to be not so welcoming after all? What barriers to finding faith in Jesus have you experienced or noticed? Some other posts about ambiguous or odd signs: How not to welcome visitors Alarmin...

This must be the most unwelcoming sign I've seen inside a church. A few days ago my husband and I were visiting the Czech Republic. We stepped inside a church in Prague. What was the first thing that greeted us? This sign in English, 'STOP TOURISTS'. I collect ambiguous signs as they appeal to my sense of humour. So I took this photo. Is it a slogan to rally people to stop tourists entering the church or visiting Prague which has a lot of tourists? On further inspection it seemed intended only to stop visitors from entering the north aisle where restoration work was being done. OK. Understood. But I didn't feel welcome. Would you? What's the most unwelcoming sign you've seen outside or inside a church? Image: my own PS. For other ambiguous or funny signs see: Ambiguous Signs Alarming or helpful? Humans Welcome by Appointment only

Ambiguous signs always amuse me. Those who post the signs think the meaning is clear, but people with my type of sense of humour will always see more than is intended. Take this one for example, which I found while sorting my photos on this wet Saturday afternoon. Is this sign a description to inform you that behind this fence live particular types of children and waterbirds - slow children and slow waterbirds? Is it a warning about slow children and slow waterbirds? Is it an instruction to be slow intended specifically for children and waterbirds to obey? Is it a warning and instruction to walkers, cyclists and drivers to move slowly because children and waterbirds may be on the road? And why oh why is it placed where it will only be seen by anyone coming out of a nursing home drive onto a narrow muddy lane where speed is impossible? Particularly as the ducks and geese are found on the drive, blocking vehicular progress, as often as on the nursing home pond? If you hav...

Do you notice curious signs? I do. It's one of the delights of travel and days out exploring. I spotted this sign on a cold February day last year, while looking for lunch in an unfamiliar place. It was outside a pub near the quay in Orford, Suffolk, England.  We had no appointment or reservation and didn't think we qualified as children, dogs, parrots or horses. So after reading the sign my husband and I were pleasantly surprised to be given an excellent meal here. The most disturbing thing about this sign is that while the pub welcomes children, it seems they don't consider children to be human. It turned out to be a welcoming place though and the views near by were superb, even on a dull winter day. A happy memory on this dull and drizzly Bank Holiday Monday. Photos: my own

Do you notice signs? This one made me stop to giggle because of its ambiguity. Why is this roof alarmed? It's very high and very big so what could possibly have alarmed it? Low-flying aircraft? Migrating geese? Woodworm in the rafters? Bats in the belfry? Most likely the latter. The roof in question is a rural medieval church roof. On the other hand the notice probably means the roof has been fitted with an alarm system to deter lead and copper thieves - a major problem round our way. The image is just part of the notice on the board outside the church. The other part tells which security company to phone if you need to climb on the roof. Lead and copper thieves need not apply. Gutter clearers and roof restorers welcome. Signs that warn of alarmed rooves or badgers on the road are useful. So are signs that point the way you might want to go. But who would want to go here? "TO THE EDGE" Some signposts are just confusing, giving no clear direction at all, lik...