I learned something very useful in the last few weeks. It started with that week, the week when – for a moment – I lived at less than my usual hyper-speed velocity. A beautiful week: of peace, of calm and stillness. I had space to think and space to be. It was possible to live … Continue reading »
Silence and solitude are not just luxuries for a committed few. They are the very ground in which God places his seed and they are possible even in the midst of a busy life and a hectic schedule, for the silence is the silence of the heart and the solitude a trust in God beyond … Continue reading »
I have fallen into this week, stumbling on to my face, slamming on the brakes. The pace has slowed, yet how long it takes for my heart to still! One week every four to six months. One week of relative stillness, of solitude, of a diary largely scrubbed of obligations. One week of living slow, of … Continue reading »
Leaders are tired. Often really tired. I know that from firsthand experience, of course. It’s a slow leak, an almost imperceptibly small depletion of energies, of passion, of get-up-and-go. It’s that feeling of always being ‘on’, never fully able to disentangle your heart from the work. And you push yourself that bit further every day, … Continue reading »
Image credit I am not an extrovert. I knew that already, of course. But this week has driven it into me in a whole new way. I do not thrive if I cannot be alone at relatively regular intervals. And this week, although filled with wonderful things, has not been an introvert’s week. Recently, I … Continue reading »
Oops, I may have just started another book. Or three. What can I say – I lack discipline in some areas! (Phil, I promise I am also reading the book I’m reviewing for you! In fact, there are some more blog posts to flow out of that soon, as well as the review that is … Continue reading »
Quoting myself into silence was a post from just under five months ago where I set out practices which I intended to implement in order to focus on intentional growth this year. Self-reviews, especially on things like this, can be good so I thought I might do one! Here is what I committed to exploring: CREATING … Continue reading »
It takes time for the water to settle. Coming to interior stillness requires waiting. Any attempt to hasten the process only stirs up the water anew. So writes Brennan Manning in ‘Abba’s Child’. I find this image of water in a jar so helpful as a picture of the soul. Once the water has been … Continue reading »
Silent solitude makes true speech possible and personal. If I am not in touch with my own belovedness, then I cannot touch the sacredness of others…Conscientiously ‘wasting’ time with God enables me to speak and act from greater strength, to forgive rather than nurse the latest bruise to my wounded ego, to be capable of … Continue reading »
The problem with reading lots of books at once is that sometimes you can have a great thought and you know it came from someone but you cannot for the life of you remember which particular author it was this time. That is my problem today. The thought relates to how we receive telephone calls … Continue reading »
