On a personal note ...

For the past 8 years, I have made it a habit to take an annual spiritual retreat, in the summer. Historically, this has been to look back over the previous academic year, see what has worked well and what hasn't, but also to look forward and plan, particularly, asking God what, if anything, should change.

This year, however, with retirement looming, the focus was deeper and broader.  I stayed at St Mary's Abbey, West Malling, in rooms provided by the Benedictine Nuns.

The view from my window

When the sun wasn't shining, I spent time
in one of the window seats, just praying and being.

The Nuns pray seven times a day
and the bell you see rings before each one
(except the earliest one)

My goal for this retreat, was not just to look back one academic year, but to look back over 66 years of life, including 36 in full-time Christian service, approximately twenty of those unpaid.

On day one, I was gazing out of the dining room window and took this photo. I was struck by the variety of trees and bushes, and shades of green. I spent the next few days in awe of creation and its Creator.  If you, personally, believe in the big bang and the theory of evolution, then you have greater faith than I do. Below are photos I took throughout the week. When I look at the immense variety within creation, I cannot but believe that there exists a Designer behind it all.

 

So very much to thank God for!

Other than basking in God's creation, I spent time reviewing my life ... yes, all 66 years of it!  Whilst it's not good to live in the past, it is good to occasionally look back and review your journey, what you've learned and how you've grown along the way.  Life is full of seasons, some more enjoyable than others, but each one has it's lessons, as you submit yourself to the process of the journey.

Developing a thankful heart is one of the keys to finding God in the midst of whatever season you find yourself. So, I spent time thanking Him for His provision over so many years. Not just financial provision, though He sustained me through 20 years of unpaid ministry, sometimes in tiny ways, sometimes in ways that were nothing short of mind-blowing.  But also his provision of friends and family who have walked my journey with me. Provision of His Holy Word and the promises it contains.

I thanked Him for those liminal spaces, the times of waiting and questioning.  I thanked Him for His grace in those seasons when I didn't know what the next step was.

I thanked Him too, for the wilderness seasons. Those times of trial and challenge, of mental and emotional turmoil ... trust me, I've had some very dark times in my life.  Yet, even in these dark seasons there is much for us to learn, as we hold on to God's Word, especially when it appears to be the only thing left to hold on to.  If we are prepared to learn and to grow, those wilderness season are NEVER wasted ... yes, they are times of separation, but they also have the potential to be times of preparation and times of revelation.

As I post this, I have just five weeks left to my working life as Medway Campus Chaplain. It's been and amazing journey!  Thank you to all who have been a part of it. 

There is much about the future that I do not yet know, but I do know that God hasn't finished with me yet 😀