Yesterday I attended my final Life and Service seminar at Wesley House, we had to take along two things that we felt would sustain us in ministry. I took Paul Heelas' book Spiritualities of Life, it represented my desire to retain an interest in alternative spiritualities, and a call to creatively engage with the folk who participate in them. My MA dissertation is going to be focused in that area, so that should help. This area of ministry beyond the fringe of the Church has always inspired and challenged me, discovering that the Holy Spirit is ahead of us, and drawing people to God in so many different ways is humbling and wonderful. It reminds me that I have a lot to learn, and that God is full of surprises.
I also took a piece of sea glass, I collect sea glass when I am walking on the beach, and I took it along as a recognition that I need to get back into a routine of regular exercise, not only to keep myself healthy, but also in order to deal with stress. I recently began practicing Tai-Chi again, and hope that this along with regular walking on my days off will help me to regain fitness that 4 years of study have gradually eroded. I have a few months to establish a decent routine before I am Stationed in Yorkshire and so hope to develop some good habits in the meantime. Having worked in Circuit ministry for six years now I have no illusions about the pressures and demands of full time ministry!
With this in mind it seemed that now would be a good time to start, and so Tim and I headed to the beach for a walk this evening, and took the time to watch the sunset. I didn't find any sea glass, but I always look for some, it reminds me of how something can be transformed, something that has been discarded becomes something beautiful. It reminds me of God's plan for me!
Here are a few photos of the beach this evening :
