Thought for the week ...

University of Greenwich Graduations

I LOVE GRADUATIONS!!!

It is such a privilege to attend the graduation ceremonies and celebrate with students and their families.  It is particularly special when I know that some have had their share of struggles and have maybe, on occasion, considered giving up.

Kaim & Tahmid have been a BIG part of the Islamic Society
over the past three years.  It's good to see them graduate
but I'm going to miss them, because they make me laugh so much 😀

Always good to see PhDs graduate, they have all worked so tirelessly to attain that doctoral degree.

I think Ahmed is asking, "Do I look silly in this hat?"  My response may have been, "You look like an orange muffin."

Jeff, so good to celebrate this day with
you; and I'm glad Niduka made it
back from Sri Lanka 😀

Tanisha, congratulations, you made it!!

It was lovely to meet your sister and your mum 😀

Rhandi and Troy were long time supporters of TABLEtalk

and other Chaplaincy activities

It was a pleasure to meet the University of Greenwich
Chancellor again, Lord Boateng.

Tendai, well done!!

There were two honorary degrees given. Firstly to the humanitarian Terry Waite OBE.  For those who don't know, he was a special envoy of the Archbishop of Canterbury during the 1980s and helped secure the release of missionaries detained in Iran after the Islamic revolution. He also extracted British hostages from Libya and even succeeded in releasing American hostages from Lebanon in 1986.  However, on January 20, 1987 and was held captive for more than four years during which time he was frequently beaten and subject to mock executions. He was held captive for 1,763 days and his account of this time can be found in his book 'Taken on Trust' - a truly inspiring read.

The second honorary awards was presented to Gary Pugh OBE, who has worked tirelessly in the realm of Forensic Science for over 40 years. In 2021 he was appointed as the government's Forensic Science Regulator, ensuring the high standards of forensic science throughout the criminal justice system.

Dominika and Amel, congratulations!!!

Dominika, really lovely to meet your parents and

to be able to host you for a few days 😀

Take Ten - New Horizons

Are you preparing for university?

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Take Ten - New Horizons

If so, you have an exciting new horizon ahead of you. You owe it to yourself to prepare well and consider how you can deal well with much newness and change.

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Thought for the week ...

University of Kent Graduations

I simply love the vibe in Rochester on Graduations days. Today it was the turn of many students from the University of Kent.

Thought for the week ...

On a personal note ...

Around this time each year I take a spiritual retreat somewhere. The purpose of this is threefold.  First, simply the opportunity to rest and re-energise at the end of each academic year.  Secondly, a chance to look back over the year and ask myself, what has worked well and what hasn't, what have I learned from this year.  Third, and lastly, the chance to do some prayerful planning for the year ahead.

This year I had the privilege of spending time at Penhurst Retreat Centre, near Battle, East Sussex.

This was the view from my window 😀  My room had some olde-worlde character, but was complimented by a modern en suite bathroom.

Each morning and afternoon there were prayers in the chapel which I took advantage of, and found very beneficial.  I loved the simplicity and the decor of the chapel.

The very first thing that struck me when I arrived, after the very warm welcome I received, was the beauty and tranquillity of the place.  The grounds were kind of simple, yet lovely. So many places you could sit and read, pray or simply be quiet.  I spent most of my mornings reading through the Psalms, and my afternoons reading 'Making Sense of the Cross' by Alister McGrath.  I journaled and drew and prayed and rested.

I was so well looked after and the food was simply marvellous, thoroughly enjoyed everything I had.  The house was book-ended on one side by a working farm, and I woke up to the sound of sheep bleating each morning, then on the other side a small church which was open to visit.

 

I walked the Penhurst triangle and enjoyed Rosalind's Wood. It's hard to make out the writing on this stone but it says: Hours fly, Flowers die, New ways, New days, Pass by Love stays, Remembrance is the last gift of love.

If you are looking for a Christian retreat centre, I cannot recommend this place highly enough.  I hope to return there 😀