Apologies for the lack of blogging for a little while. Having spent last week in Northumbria I returned to a week which included a day conference, photography course and local walking retreat! These were in addition to family time, reading time and sleeping:)
Where to start with my pligrimage 'Following in the Footsteps of St. Oswald...' Approaching Alnmouth station at the end of an 8 hour journey on Monday 9th I had that sense of having received a present, savoured it and now on the point of opening it I wasn't sure what to feel - what if opening it I was disappointed...
Stepping off the train I was warmly welcomed by a member of the community who had travelled to pcik me up - very quickly I felt at ease - it was going to be ok. I learned that four of us were going to be on pilgrimage that week.
Having arrived, had a cuppa and a tour I settled in to unpacking my things, getting ready for dinner and anticipating the walk which was to come in the evening. I got myself in a bit of a stew because looking at the information I'd received there wasn't anything that lent itself to me focussing on - I was chasing an experience of God and felt I needed a word/thought/picture something to focus on. I sensed God gently tell me not to stress and simply to be restfully present in each moment - not easy for an activist with high expectations... I was reminded of the words of Jesus, 'Consider the birds of the air and the flowers of the field...Matthew 6:26 - 28' a thought I would have ample time to return to during the week.
With dinner complete we set off on the first 6mile part of our pilgrimage - spending time getting to know each other, walking at times in silence, at times alone and at others with others, simply being attentive to all that was going on around us. Day 1 concluded with Compline in the grounds of Warkworth Castle.
Enjoy the photographs, thanks for sharing the journey and do feel free to comment on the blog/thoughts it brings up for you.
More later
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