{"id":651,"date":"2020-03-05T14:35:47","date_gmt":"2020-03-05T14:35:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/chaplaincy\/?p=651"},"modified":"2020-03-05T14:35:47","modified_gmt":"2020-03-05T14:35:47","slug":"messages-in-the-sand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.glos.ac.uk\/chaplaincy\/2020\/03\/05\/messages-in-the-sand\/","title":{"rendered":"Messages in the sand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Sand at Sennen Cove<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last Sunday some of us were thinking about Jesus going out into the desert, and maybe about own journey into the desert as we go through the 40 days of Lent. No doubt Jesus spent some of the time thinking about sand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So at our Communion service\nwe reflected a little on sand, which can have a lot to say to us. Maybe you\nhave some sand you could use as you read these reflections from Jo Parkin, our\nChaplain at Park. If not, you\u2019ll need to use your imagination!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The sand we used was from\nWhitesands Bay in Sennen Cove, right down at the toe end of the UK.  Jo and her family gathered a couple of bucketfuls\nlast week when they were staying there, and it took several days to dry the sea\nout of it in the oven!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jo says; the sand on the\nbeach at Sennen is always changing and shifting, and you can spend ages just\ngazing at the interaction between sand and sea. \nThe sea takes some of the sand out into the depths of the bay, and then\nwith the next storm or strong current brings it all back in again onto the\nbeach.  The sea is constantly changing\nthe shape of the beach \u2013 moulding it and shaping it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may like to reflect for a\nmoment on what is emerging or growing in your life at the moment, or how your\nlife is being moulded and shaped.  If you\nhave some sand, use your finger to make shapes in the sand as you consider\nthis\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There may be aspects of your\nlife which you know you need to change. \nPerhaps life-draining patterns of thought or behaviour, something at\nhome or at work, maybe a relationship that is not feeling very healthy at the\nmoment.  As you reflect on this, take a\nhandful of sand and then let it flow through your fingers – or imagine doing\nthis – as you consider what you may need to let go of\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the invitation we had\nwas to simply to take some sand and hold it, almost as if you were holding a\ngift – you can hold out your hand and imagine. \nThis is the present moment \u2013 your life right now.  Nothing to do except to be still and notice\nwhat is, with thankfulness\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of our service we poured our sand into a bowl as a symbol of our collective life together.\u00a0 As our sand mingled with that from other bowls, we were aware that none of us live in isolation \u2013 we are all intimately connected to each other and to the created world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our prayers, we thought again about desert places:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord Jesus, you knew the desert – its gifts and its challenges. Give us courage to make desert spaces in our lives – places which are free from our everyday busyness – places where we can pray, and reflect and meet deeply with you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pray for people who are in\ndesert places which they have not chosen, and who cannot see a way out. We\nremember all those who are in hard places at the moment\u2026  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, may they come to know that you are there, with them, that you will never leave them, and that you can bring new life, even in the desert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pray for all who are in\nthe desert of isolation and fear because of the corona virus – for those in\nother countries, and for those here who are anxious about how they will be\naffected\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lord, be with all who have to make decisions, those working on a medical response, those caring for others, and those who are suffering. Help us to find the inner space to go through this time with trust, generosity and imagination, finding ways to live out your love in our lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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