Tower and Town, November 2021 (view the full edition)St Non's RetreatSeptember... St Non's... It must be, except it wasn't last year for the usual covid reason, so this year it was an especial joy to return to that beautifully situated, welcoming house overlooking the sea on the Pembroke coast near St David's. A programme of Celtic style Christian meditation on the five senses was led by Lynne Busfield (team vicar at Preshute 20 years ago) while afternoon walks were arranged by Barney Rosedale; and we were more than amply fed by the three delightfully happy and helpful nuns who 'run the joint'. A week beforehand, six of us were invited to volunteer to lead a morning or evening prayer session that focussed in turn on the five senses of sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, plus a rounding-off session that looked at the non-organic or spiritual senses such as justice, responsibility, compassion, humour. The warm Indian Summer and calm conditions enabled some delightful cliff top walks and a certain three females of our number donned swimmers and pretended the Atlantic was still warm. On the last evening we adjourned to St David's magnificent cathedral and enjoyed the wonderful choral evensong. On the morning of departure, to allow us to slot everything into perspective, Barney led a slow meditative walk. I recommend you try it in Savernake, on the Downs or even on the Common. Try one step with each breath and look at the ground. Initially one has to concentrate on balance but soon a rhythm and surety takes over and the mind is free to roam with or without the body... a peaceful and refreshing experience, and looking up from the ground, the world can seem refreshed too with more colour and more detail. Let us now truly live in God's world. Peter Noble |