Scallop shell

I love Maggi Hambling's scallop shell which is on Aldeburgh beach. It's been there since the end of 2003 and I enjoy walking along the beach to the north of town to visit it. It isn't to everyone's liking and has been vandalised by covering with paint on several occasions.

 

I was tempted to post an old photo rather than those from today as it looks stunning against a bright blue sky.

 

It seemed an appropriate immage as the scallop shell is often used as a symbol associated with pilgrimage. Many of the 'ramblings' from my sabbatical have taken the form of Pilgrimage and I hope to continue this on Saturday by going on the annual Bradwell Pilgrimage.

sand

An evening stroll at Romford Golf Club

 

To see a world in a grain of sand,

And a heaven in a wild flower,

Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,

And eternity in an hour.

 

William Blake, from Auguries of Innocence

 

Faith

At one point a completely random thought popped into my mind. I have liked the music of the band Runrig since I first saw them in the Union when I was a student in Edinburgh. I've also been fortunate to see them more recently in Cambridge and last year in Southend. I remember many years ago when one of the band Calum Macdonald (note the correct spelling of Calum!) was being interviewed and was asked about the Christian nature of some of the songs. His response was "well Rory and I write most of the songs and we are Christians." It wasn't a conscious decision but just something that happened – they were Christians so it was natural that their faith would be seen in their outlook on the world and life. I wonder how true that is for us; that whatever we do, whatever choices we make in life, can our faith be seen so clearly by others.

Matthew 7.7-8

"ask and it will be given you; search, and you shall find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened"

Radiance

Lord, I come to your awesome presence,

from the shadows into your radiance;

by the blood I may enter your brightness,

search me, try me, consume all my darkness.

Shine on me, shine on me.

A long way...

"The longest journey is from the head to the heart."

Psalm 131.2

"I have calmed and quieted my soul..."

Precious

"You are precious in my eyes and I love you." Isaiah 43.4

St Patrick's breastplate

In Chapel we sang a hymn based on St Patricks breastplate; Christ be beside me, sung to the tune Bunessan.

 

Shea, if you're reading this can we add it to our repertoire at St Michael's? (I've also come across another really great Bernadette Farrell hymn using Psalm 139 but don't know the tune)

 

Christ be beside me, Christ be before me,

Christ be behind me, King of my heart.

Christ be within me, Christ be below me,

Christ be above me, never to part.

 

Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand,

Christ all around me, shield in the strife.

Christ in my sleeping, Christ in my sitting,

Christ in my rising, light of my life.

 

Christ be in all hearts thinking about me,

Christ be in all tongues telling of me.

Christ be the vision in eyes that see me,

in ears that hear me, Christ ever be.

Ecumenism

I was staying in a Roman Catholic retreat house run by Jesuits, following a time of prayer based on the spiritual exercises of Ignatius. I'm an Anglican with strong Presbyterian roots and my guide was a Swedish Lutheran – God does have a sense of humour QED!

The Lord's Prayer

At the end of one of my prayer sessions I prayed the Lord's Prayer and without stopping to consider which version to use found that I had reverted to the version of my childhood – forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

 

Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done;

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

the power and the glory,

for ever and ever.  Amen   

John the Baptist

At the Eucharist on Wednesday evening we remembered that the next day the Church celebrates the birth of John the Baptist. In his homily the Priest reminded us that it was 3 months since the Annunciation and 6 months until Christmas – where has the year gone?

 

I couldn't find any locusts, a robin eating a caterpillar was the best I could do!

Retreat

I've been without internet access for over a week, so haven't posted anything to my blog but I have made notes to cut and paste. I have managed to survive almost 8 days being incommunicado with the outside world. I have even managed to keep silence apart from the daily session with my guide and worship in the chapel. Although I had my mobile phone with me I have been very good and only used it as an alarm clock and to send a text home saying I'd arrived.

 

I bought myself a newspaper to read on the train, to try and catch up with what's happened in the world. I'd guessed England had been knocked out of the World Cup as I'd not seen any flags on cars this morning. Interested to see the Independents suggested team for 2014 with Ipswich's Connor Wickham playing up front; just hope he scores for Ipswich next season. Pleased to see that Scotland is still being represented at Wimbledon – keep going Andy!

 

I haven't taken many pictures this week, I've actually found it quite hard to see things I wanted to photograph (hard to believe, I know.) I don't know whether it's because I've been focussing on God and our relationship, and photography has felt like an unwelcome distraction. I really appreciated the opportunity to have this time away; to spend time in quality prayer without any distractions and responsibilities.

 

I'll post a selection or random thoughts and pictures for you from my time away.

 

packing again

No photos today; think I'm photo'd out from last week!

 

I've spent the evening packing again as I'm off on retreat tomorrow, I'm away for 8 days so may not have a chance to update my blog 'till I get back. I seem to have spent a lot of time on my Sabbatical packing my suitcase and then unpacking it again. I've only just caught up with the last lot of washing.

 

I watched the DVD of the film Julie & Julia at the weekend as it was suggested that I might find it an interesting reflection as it tells the story of a writer who set herself the challenge of cooking all the recipes in a book in a year and keeping a blog about it. I'm pleased to say that I don't think that I've been quite as paranoid about the task I set myself of photos and reflections - I've managed to do something most days but have felt quite relaxed about it when I haven't had anything to post.