After breakfast I spent the morning in the garden exploring the different places to sit. Some of them were too hot to stay for long, so I ended up on the bench I'd sat on the first evening as this was the coolest place I could find.
I sat in the dabbled sunshine writing and thinking, and all too soon it was time for midday prayer.
At the close of our prayer time together before lunch we prayed this prayer by Benedict of Nursia:
O gracious and holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to meditate upon you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
After a tasty lunch, eaten once again in silence, I returned to the garden for a short while before heading back to my car to return down the dirt track and make my way home.
My time at Glasshampton has been very tranquil and the deep and profound quiet has given me space to gather my thoughts and reflect on my sabbatical time in a very beneficial way.
Beyond the silence
I step into the silence
As voices diminish
I become attuned
To other sounds that fill the air:
Melodic birdsong, insect hum
Footstep patter, gentle breeze
Clink of cutlery, a cough - or two
Sounds that may otherwise be overlooked
Drowned out by the chatter of normal living
But, as the silence settles,
I tune into something deeper still
As I slow down
I catch up with my creator
The One waiting for me, ever long,
to lay aside the sounds of life
and listen for His precious voice.
This time at Glasshampton has been a wonderful opportunity to listen out for what God has to say to me. And I am so thankful to the Brothers at the monastery who's generous hospitality has made this experience possible.
