thoughts

it seems ages ago that we went to Holy Island. while we were there i wrote a meditation which i had planned to lead at some point on the weekend but it didn't happen and then i thought i would do it when we got back some time but i don't think that feels right now - this morning on the loo i thought God was suggesting i put it up on the blog. so here it is - a meditation/reflection on silence while in a place of solitude...

when you slow down and let the silence soak through your very being, you start to be aware of so much more.

It's as though your senses have been sleeping.

As you start to relax into the silence, you realise it isn't silent at all. in fact, there's a carefully composed melody all around.

as the waves lap up against the rocks you start to breathe in time with the natural rhythm of the tide. the gentle waves fill the structure of the sound with a calming continuum of song within which the sea gulls provide the harmonies.

then you notice in the distance that you can hear the dull hum of a motor - maybe a boat or a car. your ears seem to relax and open up and then you become aware that you are breathing deeper, using all the space in your lungs so that your tummy rises and falls with each breath in and out.

if you breathe through your nose you can smell the greenness of the seaweed and the hint of salt in the air and it seems to refresh you with new life.

even your eyes come alive to the many colours that leap out of the stillness - the mustard yellow and silver grey of the moss-like patterns on the rocks.

across the water the sun projects a glistening trail of light which sparkles with every movement of the water's surface.

nature seems to thrive even though much is dying back in the autumn season.

still, there are tiny pearl mushrooms which leap out of the grass and when you take the time to look, the thistles have lost their green spikes and coloured flowers but have been transformed into delicate, gentle heads of brown whiskers with soft white fur.

there are shells where you don't expect them and small brown feathers caught in some coarse blades of grass.

the air is cold and your fingers are starting to bite a bit but somehow you have entered this rare space of relaxation which has set you apart from yourself and fused you with your environment.

in this place you can hear the still small voice of God whispering to you about how precious you are.

tingles rush through your limbs as you feel the Spirit rejoicing over you with singing.

here are the quiet waters and the green pastures.

here is the nourishment and living water.

here is where you know that even in the silence you are never alone.