Quiet

Today was the last day of four seasonal days that I have taken away from the hustle and bustle of home and life in general, to be QUIET. It has been an interesting journey of solitude, silence, reading, meditation, and prayer. I’ve learned some things about myself, some things about faith and consumed a lot of coffee and snacks.

My first day was in AUTUMN. I booked a tiny little one-roomed airBNB with Strangford Lough in the distance, for one night. It was a challenge to switch off the phone, and be alone with just my thoughts and to start with I was really restless – sitting, standing, lying down, walking. I didn’t sleep too well as the carbon monoxide alarm went off in the middle of the night! I took a rucksack full of books and my journal. I read a lot and wrote a lot and reflected a lot on the year that had gone by. One of my take aways from these 24 hours was the reminder of the connection between the physical and the spiritual. I love to walk, despite my sometimes dodgy feet, and am often just lost in my thoughts. Maybe it was time to intentionally use all my senses more as I take in the world around me.

For my WINTER day I took another airBNB in a cabin in Cloughey that was like being on the Orient Express. I picked a night that had gale force winds and horizontal rain with my huge window looking out on the beach about 10metres away. I didn’t sleep too much that night either, due to the howling wind and drumming rain. I took my rucksack of books, my journal and my crochet this time and listened to music as I made stitches. I read a lot, listened a lot, wrote a lot and reflected on the months since my last quiet day. My big thought during this stay was the realisation that living life by lists (too many lists) was becoming an unhealthy way to live. The effect of this was the experience of increasing guilt when my tasks weren’t achieved. Continual alarms on my phone to remind me to do this, that and the other were just interrupting any kind of spontaneity and joy. I needed to lose them. So I did. And the result is I feel lighter, less bound by things which, although created by me, were hindering not helping me.

In SPRING I decided not to do an overnight. Just a few hours away from home and in Rowallane Gardens – my second favourite place after my home. This way I could avoid temperamental carbon monoxide alarms and the sounds of storms disturbing any sleep, and save some pennies too. It was a beautiful day. I took my rucksack, but this time just one book, my journal and a picnic. Being outdoors seems to somehow enhance my ability to think clearly, tune in to those thoughts and of course appreciate the beauty in nature and experience that sense of grounding, slowing down and awakening my senses both physically and spiritually. I read a lot, listened to the birds, noticed the beauty of nature and wrote a bit (my pen ran out of ink and I didn’t have another). Sabbath was my takeaway from this day. It was something I had been thinking about and then lo and behold, the next chapter in the book I had with me was all about the spiritual rhythm of Sabbath. Taking a day in the week to really slow down, remove some things that are distracting and add in some things that will bring focus and closeness to God during that day. So, I have been practicing that rhythm as much as I can since then. I’ve removed screens, housework (yay!) and spending money and added in listening to podcasts (The Sacred, Bridgetown Church, Earthkeepers are some of my favourites), time set aside for lectio divina, walking with the dog and relaxing with family or being with my faith community.

SUMMER. Today. Back to Rowallane. I had even less in my rucksack – no picnic today. I read, listened to the birds (Barn Swallow, Common Buzzard, Robin, Sedge Warbler, House Martin, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Treecreeper and Goldcrest – thanks Merlin), spent a lot of time in silence and wrote a bit. Again, my pen ran out of ink. I spent time today giving some thought to my Rule of Life. Another spiritual practice that brings intention, a plan if you like, to the areas in my life where I would like to see some change. The end of summer, beginning of the school year is when I tend to do this anyway. Reflecting on how I have lived my life and worked on spiritual transformation over this past year and thinking about some areas to focus on over the incoming year. It’s a healthy practice for me, making it more simple and realistic as the years go by.

How can I follow Jesus more and how can I be kind to others is the bottom line. I want these rhythms of Sabbath, silence, solitude and prayer to shape how I live. My quiet days give me space to consider all these things.

Ruth Haley Barton’s book Sacred Rhythms has been a companion throughout my four seasonal days this year and has been a helpful guide to thinking about intentional, spiritual transformation.

Note to self for the next quiet day: lighten the rucksack – one book, one journal is all I need. And, bring a spare pen!

I would really love to hear how you do quiet days, retreats, soul-searching. It would be good to mix it up and bring some new creative ideas into these days.