I returned home today by train, after spending the weekend with my mum at Lee Abbey - participating in a women's retreat weekend for the start of Advent. We both had a really lovely time. It was wonderful to disconnect from all the busyness of the world, and all the contact - a mobile phone signal at Lee Abbey? Who ever heard of such a thing?!
It was rather a wild November weekend but a beautiful place to be, travelling through the always amazing Valley of the Rocks in order to reach our destination.
For me, after this time of hope re-emerging, it felt like a culmination, an affirmation of all I've re-discovered. And also helped me realise how rubbish I've been at spending time with God - finding my 'sacred space.' I don't mean that in a woe-is-me-I'm-such-failure-way, but a wry shaking of my head...and a need to re-shuffle my priorities. (So often we either ignore a need completely, or otherwise get so obsessed with having a guilt trip about it - either way does not lead to anything helpful!)
So, I'm pondering things and trying to carry them with me as we continue the advent journey towards Christmas.
