It is very hot and we naturally slow when it is this hot. Some bask like a lizard in this heat, others just lie down in a darkened room and try and chill. The feeling is less is more, and that’s a good thing, today in any case.
My attention has been drawn to a bookmark made by a friend and at the top there is a quote from Brother Roger of Taize, and it is this:
“In every man lies a zone of solitude that no human intimacy can fill: and there God encounters us…”
I like that. Thank you Frances, once again your wisdom gets through to me.
Andrew and I of an evening have been strolling up at Shortwood, it has been good for us; a daily practice of chatting through the day. Sometimes we even take breakfast up there and watch the land wake up, and my video clip was taken recently. It struck me that, these conversations are similar to the daily examine, which I tend to do at night. For those who practice this thoughtful rumination with God on how your day has been, what went well and indeed what could have gone better, its a nice habit to get into and it leads nicely into a focused prayer encounter. It could even be done in an imaginary stroll through the woods, or parkland or any imagined space that works for you. It doesn’t matter where, it can even be done lying down in a darkened room! The relationship thing, is the part that is important. God is there just waiting, patiently and silently for us to begin the conversation. Jesus travels along with us, and He is that companion who strolls along beside us as we wonder how to fall into step.
I hope you enjoy the tranquil clip, it was a beautiful morning and I know some of you can't get up there, so I thought that you might like to imagine you are too. The Taize chant "Nothing can ever come between us and the love of God, the love of God" has come to mind, we are still apart from each other physically, but we are still so close when we pray in one heart. The chant is based on Romans 8:31-39 but verses 38-39 struck a chord today...
"...And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord..."
Up at the field the other weekend and on our evening strolls the outside and the fields have been places of extra special encounters, God has felt very present.
It's a big weekend for us. On Sunday is the big day, I am being licensed and admitted as a Reader into the Anglican Church and into the Diocese of Peterborough. I feel it is your licensing too in a sense as you have been with me in prayer support through laughter and tears and as I painfully realised how much I had and have yet to learn. But I listened to you all, and it is with huge gratitude and thanks and hugs that you got me there! THANK YOU! Plus I'm going to be 60 (I don't feel a day over 90)! I have included the zoom link if you feel you might like to join in. Some of you will be getting an email, if I have missed you off, it was not intended it is just sometimes emails get a bit jumbled and well, you know me! It starts at 11.30 straight after our weekly service on Sunday 28th June.
Meeting ID: 854 9622 1129
Password: 536049
I will virtually gather with you at 9.00 as per usual on our Friday morning just to try and keep our usual 'slot' going!
https://youtu.be/nmi3cD2zshg "Nothing can ever", Taize chant based on Romans 8:31-39
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