Tower and Town, July 2021 (view the full edition)Clergy LetterWhat does 'leaving lockdown' mean for you? Now, with miles of walking under our belts and countless hours on Zoom, we're free to go further afield, but where will we go and what do we really want to do? I've always longed to go to Iona and as I write this, I've just spent a couple of days on the island, visiting the Abbey and spending time in the various chapels. Within one of them, was a bench with the simple inscription, 'Be still'.  As I was wandering along one of the beaches, the words from James 4.8 came to mind 'Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you'. God is with us wherever we are, although our own minds are often elsewhere. For a moment, I was still, and I noticed that there were birds' eggs in a nest on the beach, the shells were beautiful, the pebbles were pinks and greens and small flowers were growing out of the rocks. I was also conscious of how little time I give to being still and just being with God. How often do we really find space to hear the still small voice within or consider becoming the person God intends us to be? Sometimes it is refreshingly simple. Maybe finding a book that inspires us, listening to music, hearing a sermon that sets us on a new path or reading a Bible passage that speaks clearly into our own situation. At other times reflecting on our lives and particularly our spiritual lives can be more challenging. Some people find silence essential for hearing God's voice, others find it stultifying and oppressive. Where and when do you hear God speak to you most clearly? Jesus calls us to change our lives and to follow him. How could you learn more about following Jesus and give God the chance to meet you in a new way? Not all journeys involve going away, going on a spiritual journey can start anywhere at all. Might praying as you walk, or just being still, be a good way to start? Sarah Musgrave |