Tuesday Night Refelections

Heya guys!

Was just a small number of us last night but thought I'd share a few of the reflections that came up as it felt significant.
Mainly to highlight again two words that had come up time and time again throughout the week and these are the words 'Slow' and 'Patience'. I remember Drew mentioning 'Slow' on the first night I think, and it was echoed a few times by other people. I also wonder if it comes into play with the image Dewi had of the seasons?
The really cool part though came when we were putting our words into the dough on Sunday and there came a little voice (Oscar), who offered his word into the mix... of all the words he should choose he said, 'Patience'. Which, when you think about it, seems an unlikely choice. (Feel free to correct us though Claire! :) ). Ian admitted he assumed Oscar had got it from when Claire shared on Friday about the 'wide space', only to realise Oscar wasn't even there! Maybe it was the emotive music playing in the background as we talked about this, but I felt a stirring in my Spirit as I remembered that moment.
We prayed about this some more and my personal feeling is that this is about listening. When we are 'slow' we are able to listen more. I also happened to fall upon the topic of patience later that night in a book I am reading which Anna kindly lent me called Finding Sanctuary.

Humility involves patience and that is why it provides a good opportunity for personal growth. Patience is not the same as tolerance, since some things should not be tolerated. But all things should be dealt with patiently; an over hasty response is rarely helpful, even in a crisis. But nor is patience simply grinning and bearing things we hate; that is endurance. Patience is more subtle: it is the attempt to live out in a positive frame of mind the difficulties that come from trying to obey and love other people. To embrace patience is to embrace suffering, but a suffering out of love.

Peace.
J0N