holy island

Holy Island: Days 2 and 3

I was intending to blog yesterday evening but unfortunately an unexpected migraine wiped me out from about 7pm, so I missed the chance to walk round the Island in the evening stillness and to blog šŸ™ Thankfully I woke up today feeling much better.Ā 

It was great to be in Holy Island all day yesterday and to real feel like I began to rest, the sense of wanting to do everything immediately wasnā€™t there and I really enjoyed both of the books I began to read, finishing the first today.Ā 

James, a friend and colleague who is also on sabbatical at the moment blogged last week about making spaces intentional. I read Jamesā€™ blog over the weekend so decide to grab a few items from my office at Church to use to make an intentional space, a sacred space in the different places I will be during sabbatical. Yesterday I spent sometime thinking about which items I wanted in my sacred space and choose this cross, the candle holder, my Bible and Prayer Book. Yesterday and today I spent time in prayer and reading the Bible in this space and the items enabled it to be more sacred and my prayers more rich.

As I have returned home today I want to continue a daily time of prayer and reflection in this sacred space and to reflect on what that space means. Iā€™ve begun reading 1 Samuel and Acts which I have felt led to go back to during this early part of the sabbatical. My thinking theme for sabbatical is around rules/ways/rhythms of (Christian) life and I hope this space, these prayers and the scriptures will shape and hold my thinking in this area. 

Another joy of yesterday was to share part of the day with Phil, another friend and colleague who is also on sabbatical and part of a group I retreat with regularly. It was good to walk, to talk and to share how first sabbaticals feel a few days in.

Phil is focussing on photography and we spent some time taking pictures together and sharing how they spoke to us of scripture and faith. 

I particularly like these photos I took of St Cuthbertā€™s Island, the cross stands prominently above everything else and even when the tide is in it can still be seen. It reminded me that Jesus stands above everything no matter what tides, seas or waves we face – not that I feel like Iā€™m facing any of those particularly at the moment but like anyone I have at different times in the past. It spoke to me that through all I do on sabbatical whether Iā€™m on a focussed retreat, at home with my precious family, reading a book, cooking tea – I must keep lifting my eyes to God, to see what Jesus has to offer into the situation, to watch for the Spirit moving. If I keep lifting my eyes then I will see more of the sacred, move of the divine and be blessed.Ā 

Today in true Northumberland style it rained! So I moved from coffee shop to coffee shop, enjoying the warmth inside and two good books Iā€™m reading. I then drove home and was able to pick Jethro up from nursery which was great. Iā€™m returning to Holy Island at the end of my sabbatical and it will be good to be able to look back and see what God has done between my two visits. 

The next few days Iā€™m at home, spending time with Jethro and Tara and doing some house/life jobs, as I do Iā€™ll keep lifting my eyes and seeing what God offers into whatever Iā€™m doing. 

I lift up my eyes to the mountains –
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slipā€”
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord watches over youā€”
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm ā€”
he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121ļ»æ

Holy Island: Day 1

I always knew that it wouldn’t be until I got to Holy Island today that I would really believe the sabbatical had started. As Tara and I made plans for this time we knew it would be important for me to do something to mark the beginning and coming to Holy Island felt the right way to do that.

The Causeway onto Holy Island

Lindisfarne Castle (top)
and a view of the bay from
the view point (bottom).

After I’d arrived I went for a walk as my accommodation wasn’t ready till later. As I walked and ate my sandwiches I was overwhelmed by all the things I could do and in some ways wanted to do, all the things that have been in my head to do as I’ve planned the sabbatical. I wanted to read, to pray, to be still, to take pictures and to do them all at once. I quickly realised, what I probably knew in my head, that what I need to do is to settle down into God’s pace, to set down the active ministry pace which is about doing/ticking off the list and to find God’s pace for this time.

Later in the afternoon I was out walking again and was really struck by this pile of hay bales. Through them God really spoke to me of all the plans that Tara and I have made for sabbatical, which are in true Goodall style neatly stacked like each of the bales. Through the image God spoke to me of the plans being good, but that I don’t need to take them off the pile and unwrap them all at once, I can take them and enjoy them one by one when the time is right, God’s time and at God’s pace. Just round the corner I saw the pilgrim’s way poles, uncrossable because the tide was still going out, they spoke to me of taking things one step at a time and not trying to do everything at once.

The Hay Bales that God spoke to me through (top) and the Pilgrim Way Poles (middle and bottom).

Coffee and Scone at the
Pilgrims Coffee House.

Alongside my walking and thinking I’ve enjoyed starting a book, some colouring, taking photos, the peace of the Island, evening prayers at St Mary’s Church and Compline with the Community of Aidan and Hilda. I also treated myself to Coffee and Scone (a real treat as I’ve given up snacks between meals for Lent).

I’ve been telling everyone that I’m staying in a shed on Holy Island. It is in fact a great cabin in a garden which I’m really enjoying. You can find it on Air BnB.

Some more of my pictures from today:

Getting Ready

I can’t quite believe this time next week I’ll be on sabbatical! It’s over a year ago that I was asked to write my sabbatical prospectus, saying what I hoped to do during this time, and now it’s less than a week away!

I’m spending this week bringing together different areas of my work, visiting various people and getting things ready to hand over. On Sunday I will share in the morning service at Hexham Trinity some more about what I’ll be doing during the three months away.

On Monday I’m heading north for a few days on Holy Island to mark the beginning of the sabbatical. I’m very excited about the cabin I’ve found to stay in.

I hope these few days on Holy Island will help me to begin to switch off from circuit life, to open myself up to God, to pray, to read and most of all to simply be with no pressures, todo lists, emails or phone calls that need to be attended too.

I’ve got a big pile of books I’m looking forward to choosing a book from to start reading. I’m also going to start reading 1 Samuel and Acts, two books of the Bible I’d like to read afresh and reflect on.