An answer to Mary McCarthy’s doubts lies in the simple spirituality of the Carthusian novice conferences that I am reading at the moment. The novice Master talks of the Beatitudes. “Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God”. He writes beautifully:

We all have our ideas about purity: it is that which is without blemish, unalowed, perfect. Perhaps in our imagination the word evokes the image of the innocent eyes of a child, the mysterious clarity of vision with which a young girl, guileless and serene looks out on the world; a small flower that joyously displays its beauty one day; the sweetness of a bell sounding in the tranquil evening air.

Or of Handfast Point which I sailed around the other day and which I try to capture below.