Last year I, Debbie, decided after many years deliberation, to move to Devon. I wanted to live in a place where I could both practice and be involved with a more active spiritual community. The move was huge for me -I’d lived in Hampshire, in the same small area for 28 years. But I was excited too - having got to know Sam prior to my move and I quickly got involved with Open Spirit. Now only a few months later we find ourselves facilitating our first public event together, for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The theme is “We will all be changed” and our particular subject is “changed through struggle”.
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| I kept these paintings of my dream... |
Walking the dog through the wonderful Devon countryside this afternoon, I thought how much change is in the fabric of life – imperceptible change goes on in nature all the time - suddenly we delight in seeing snowdrops, unseasonal daffodils, and bulb growth pushing up through the soil. And I remembered too that some years ago I’d had a dream in which there was a signpost saying “Devon 120 miles”. I took it as positive confirmation of the change I’d made. But it has already involved struggle – sorely missing close friends, unexpected changes with the circumstances of friends who live here, and even after moving many times, still finding the unknown future scary. The promises of new technology always revolve around a struggle free existence, marketing people know that’s what we want (and it doesn’t always deliver!). Perhaps though struggle is built into the fabric of life too. Perhaps it is an integral part of growth, not something unfairly inflicted on us. Our part is to trust in the Spirit which is always creating, to watch, to look out for, to wait, for the new to emerge. Watch this space!
