It’s so easy to beat oneself up – I can do it so easily because there are always so many things I have resolved to do that never get done. I don’t imagine I am alone because one of the features of living in the 21st century is that we try to do more and more. The faster we are at doing something the quicker we are to add something else to do to the list. I added blogging some time ago – and posting my sermons. Well I have succeeded at doing neither regularly. I’m going to stop saying “I will” and start saying “If I am able to I will.” For about a week I have been  relishing reading  “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky. What I notice is the detail in which life is observed; the sight, smell, sound and  touch of things; the twists and tangles of thoughts and emotions; the waves created that resonate with faith and culture. We may be texting, e mailing, u tubing and blogging but maybe we are missing the point. Maybe we are skimming the surface of life. I’m gonna try and give myself a break.

We have just finished our first Essence Course at St James. The course is especially written for people new to the faith but to be honest most of the people on the course had been in the faith for ages. But the course was still important to us all because it enabled us to actually talk to one another. So often in courses you are actually considering something else, something outside the group, and valuable though that is, Essence keeps drawing the members back to their own relationships – and that can include our relationship with God. I never thought we would take to expressing ourselves with play dough, creating our idea of paradise out of scraps and drawing how we see our relationship with God. But we did and I, for one, feel more open to God because of it. It was really humbling to see how the group responded in trust to one another. I have to admit to leaving lots out on the course – much better to take time and that approach did lead to a glorious 45 minutes of silent prayer at different prayer stations. Thank you God, it was beautiful.