Comments on: Back in the land of Blog http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/ Random wonderings about God and Life Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:12:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tanya Heasley http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1730 Tanya Heasley Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:28:35 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1730 I always need a holiday to get over a holiday. This past week I have spent at my mum's. She lives in the middle of no where surrounded by tall trees, which obscures any traveling sound. I love spending time at my mum's and listening to the sound of nature, hearing the trees swaying in the breeze, the rabbits jumping along the moss, the squerrels cracking nuts. I tend to zone out of reality when I'm there and cocoon myself into a bubble. When I come home to my shoe box and the sound of traffic, people shouting in the distance and sirens, I sometimes find it hard to adjust back into reality. But I like reality, because it's real and I want to be in the world, to be the salt of the earth. I'm just a bit tired now from doing nothing all week. Do you know what I mean? I always need a holiday to get over a holiday.

This past week I have spent at my mum’s. She lives in the middle of no where surrounded by tall trees, which obscures any traveling sound.

I love spending time at my mum’s and listening to the sound of nature, hearing the trees swaying in the breeze, the rabbits jumping along the moss, the squerrels cracking nuts. I tend to zone out of reality when I’m there and cocoon myself into a bubble.

When I come home to my shoe box and the sound of traffic, people shouting in the distance and sirens, I sometimes find it hard to adjust back into reality. But I like reality, because it’s real and I want to be in the world, to be the salt of the earth.

I’m just a bit tired now from doing nothing all week. Do you know what I mean?

]]> By: Paul http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1716 Paul Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:00:41 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1716 i think it's just the lack of structure that means i have no hooks for my regular spiritual disciplines - so for instance i get into a pattern of praying whilst i commute to work but on holiday that is gone. I know i can pray at other times but somehow the randomness of the days away make it hard to fit it in... It makes me appreciate some of the regular patterns in my life that help my spiritual practices. Altho it is also good to take a break as well :) i think it’s just the lack of structure that means i have no hooks for my regular spiritual disciplines - so for instance i get into a pattern of praying whilst i commute to work but on holiday that is gone.

I know i can pray at other times but somehow the randomness of the days away make it hard to fit it in… It makes me appreciate some of the regular patterns in my life that help my spiritual practices.

Altho it is also good to take a break as well :)

]]> By: Rupert’s Blog » Retreat Day http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1707 Rupert’s Blog » Retreat Day Wed, 08 Aug 2007 22:09:32 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1707 [...] know something of God’s heart and wisdom for me. I am hoping to find something of the silence I found on holiday. I have a sense that the season I have been in with the Lord is nearing an end (which would be [...] [...] know something of God’s heart and wisdom for me. I am hoping to find something of the silence I found on holiday. I have a sense that the season I have been in with the Lord is nearing an end (which would be [...]

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1701 rupert Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:05:44 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1701 Thanks Duncan ... I have been practicing silence and stillness for over 5 years now ... i have been living with "be still and now that i am God" all that time, but still feel a novice. My inclination is that we don't need to be alone or even in a quiet place to experience silence and stillness ... I have found sometimes, that i can still myself internally even when there is a lot of noise around, but to be honest i find it very difficult, and it isn't often that i manage. I think it is a discipline that has to learnt. What do you think? or experince? Thanks Duncan …

I have been practicing silence and stillness for over 5 years now … i have been living with “be still and now that i am God” all that time, but still feel a novice.

My inclination is that we don’t need to be alone or even in a quiet place to experience silence and stillness … I have found sometimes, that i can still myself internally even when there is a lot of noise around, but to be honest i find it very difficult, and it isn’t often that i manage. I think it is a discipline that has to learnt.

What do you think? or experince?

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1700 rupert Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:02:40 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1700 I have corrected your link ... the trials of changing blogging platform eh? I have corrected your link … the trials of changing blogging platform eh?

]]> By: rupert http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1699 rupert Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:01:27 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1699 Thanks paul ... I appreciate hearing your experience. I wonder why you find holidays hard? Are you tired? Or out of a rythum and structure? Or away from community? I am intrigued...! Do you have a daily / weekly rythum as well as the liturgical year rythum? I have found holiday some the best times, but also some of the most disappointing times too! Often at the end of the day, as the sun sets, with a glass of wine in one hand, i am found a real stillness and peace with Jesus. But too, i often hope to do more when away on holiday and am disappointed with myself when i just flake out. Kids have made me reasses my expectations of prayer and spiritual reading on holiday (actually all reading!). Thanks paul … I appreciate hearing your experience. I wonder why you find holidays hard? Are you tired? Or out of a rythum and structure? Or away from community? I am intrigued…!

Do you have a daily / weekly rythum as well as the liturgical year rythum?

I have found holiday some the best times, but also some of the most disappointing times too! Often at the end of the day, as the sun sets, with a glass of wine in one hand, i am found a real stillness and peace with Jesus. But too, i often hope to do more when away on holiday and am disappointed with myself when i just flake out.

Kids have made me reasses my expectations of prayer and spiritual reading on holiday (actually all reading!).

]]> By: Duncan McFadzean http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1694 Duncan McFadzean Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:54:42 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1694 Sorry, wrong link there. Oops. Sorry, wrong link there. Oops.

]]> By: Duncan McFadzean http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1693 Duncan McFadzean Wed, 08 Aug 2007 17:53:51 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1693 Good to have you back, glad you had a good holiday. I've been thinking about silence, and trying to build more times in to practice this. I have to find the right place in the house for short bursts. I need to get into the country or away on holiday. Do you think silence goes hand in hand with solitude? Can you have silence and be with others? Good to have you back, glad you had a good holiday. I’ve been thinking about silence, and trying to build more times in to practice this. I have to find the right place in the house for short bursts. I need to get into the country or away on holiday. Do you think silence goes hand in hand with solitude? Can you have silence and be with others?

]]> By: Paul http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1682 Paul Tue, 07 Aug 2007 11:45:22 +0000 http://rupertward.cce.uk.net/2007/08/06/back-in-the-land-of-blog/#comment-1682 Welcome back! I always find holiday hard to do anything spiritual - i usally tune out and stay tuned out. I think more and more that's why i appreciate the rhythm of church and the liturgical year - it lets me set by time and my tuning in by something with a regular pattern and flow, allows me to find pause to reconnect with God and others rather than with myself and my religion :) Welcome back!

I always find holiday hard to do anything spiritual - i usally tune out and stay tuned out. I think more and more that’s why i appreciate the rhythm of church and the liturgical year - it lets me set by time and my tuning in by something with a regular pattern and flow, allows me to find pause to reconnect with God and others rather than with myself and my religion :)

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