Benefice-Priest in Charge
Katrina Dykes
AUGUST 2018: MESSAGE from KATRINA
I recently read an article by a poet, who explained that he had a ‘hut’ at the end of his garden, where he liked to work. He’d named it ‘Temple of Peace’, a name borrowed from Gladstone, who’d given his study that name. Though not as grand as any spacious room occupied by the former statesman, he hoped it would become a place of inspiration. In fact he had gone so far as describing it as a trysting place with the muse!
However, he went on to explain that she wasn’t very faithful at turning up for their arranged meetings and he frequently found himself poised with fountain pen in hand, in said hut with nothing doing whatsoever! In fact he admitted that the first poem that came to him, after building ‘The Temple’, was on a crowded train, when he scribbled it down with a biro on a paper bag he had his for his sandwiches.
Though no composer of poetry or any high form of literature, I do identify with this experience. Many a time I have set time and place aside to prepare a sermon, compose a letter or even write a magazine article to be met with nothing! Often, it is something I overhear, or glimpse or read in another context that strikes a chord and gets me going.
Yet, as the poet went on to say in his article, I do believe there is a link between creating time and space in set apart places, for what we may call reflection, meditation or prayer, and the inspiration that may come at another time and place. In fact I would go so far as saying that it is essential. There is something about the making and keeping of spaces in our outer lives, which somehow clears paths and opens spaces for our inner lives. I would also say that inspiration follows, not just for writing or other creative arts, but for working out what we might do in any given situation in our lives involving our relationships with others or personal challenges we may be facing.
A contemporary version of The Bible called The Message, phrases Psalm 61: 3-4 like this:
You’ve always given me breathing room,
a place to get away from it all,
A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
an open invitation as your guest.
I have often returned to these words which describe an experience of prayer that is all about God giving us space and time, God who demands nothing but offers presence and peace.
If you feel in need of a little inspiration for working something out, you could do a lot worse than try praying! Check out the website https://www.trypraying.co.uk and if you need a place to be, remember all the churches of the benefice are open every day of the year in daylight hours. You would be most welcome to come and sit and be God’s guest.
However, he went on to explain that she wasn’t very faithful at turning up for their arranged meetings and he frequently found himself poised with fountain pen in hand, in said hut with nothing doing whatsoever! In fact he admitted that the first poem that came to him, after building ‘The Temple’, was on a crowded train, when he scribbled it down with a biro on a paper bag he had his for his sandwiches.
Though no composer of poetry or any high form of literature, I do identify with this experience. Many a time I have set time and place aside to prepare a sermon, compose a letter or even write a magazine article to be met with nothing! Often, it is something I overhear, or glimpse or read in another context that strikes a chord and gets me going.
Yet, as the poet went on to say in his article, I do believe there is a link between creating time and space in set apart places, for what we may call reflection, meditation or prayer, and the inspiration that may come at another time and place. In fact I would go so far as saying that it is essential. There is something about the making and keeping of spaces in our outer lives, which somehow clears paths and opens spaces for our inner lives. I would also say that inspiration follows, not just for writing or other creative arts, but for working out what we might do in any given situation in our lives involving our relationships with others or personal challenges we may be facing.
A contemporary version of The Bible called The Message, phrases Psalm 61: 3-4 like this:
You’ve always given me breathing room,
a place to get away from it all,
A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
an open invitation as your guest.
I have often returned to these words which describe an experience of prayer that is all about God giving us space and time, God who demands nothing but offers presence and peace.
If you feel in need of a little inspiration for working something out, you could do a lot worse than try praying! Check out the website https://www.trypraying.co.uk and if you need a place to be, remember all the churches of the benefice are open every day of the year in daylight hours. You would be most welcome to come and sit and be God’s guest.