There are many advantages to living in a big city; I can often be found waxing lyrical (or just plain going on and on) about the joys of living in the middle of London. But you wouldn’t necessarily think that chief among the benefits was finding space to be quiet and contemplative. In fact it’s the busy, bustling, urban, never-sleeping nature of the city which makes it so thrilling.
But here I am today, at the Royal Foundation of Saint Katharine in Limehouse, a mere two miles from my home (although a fair bit of that is the Thames) in what they call An Extraordinary Urban Oasis, to read, write, think and pray.
As I sit in the garden on what feels like the first proper spring day of the year, I can hear the traffic rumbling outside but in here it’s oh-so-peaceful and calming. I’ll often bump into someone I know here on these Quiet Reflective Mondays at Saint Katharine’s. Today was no exception and as I chatted to my friend John at lunch, we agreed that carving out a day to get away from the usual distractions and make space to read, think and pray is a useful discipline in these harrying times we live in. I say useful: I almost wrote necessary. But I realise that it’s also a luxury some might not have; and so I’m grateful too.
Grateful for Mondays off work; grateful that I can afford the financial cost of being here (complete with the endless tea and coffee, cakes and lunch); grateful that I can find peace in my mind and my spirit to enjoy a day like this.
If you’re not fortunate enough to live in London, you can always make the most of the RFSK if you’re passing through: they do bed and breakfast too!
Even if you never make it to this particular urban oasis, can I recommend to you the practice of taking time out to rest with your thoughts; pray if you’re that way inclined; think? Today I have revisited my new year reflections made over a quarter of a year ago now! I don’t go back to these things often enough but it’s always helpful when I do. Rather than merely let life happen, it’s good sometimes to stop and think about life; think about what’s important to you and how you’re going to allot to those things more of your time and attention. Think about the things you want to change, and maybe the things you want to stop doing.
And if you have things to be thankful for, think about those things, and be thankful.
In the words of the Apostle Paul:
Whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things.
- Philippians 4:8
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