Do you need space?

Okay, I have to admit that the space in yesterday's post really annoyed me. Blogger just simply doesn't behave when I use it. Everyone else seems to have perfected blog layout except me. No matter how I changed and re-posted my blog yesterday, that space appeared under the title. And what was worse, every time I changed it, it grew!

But it was a timely reminder, though, of one of things that most of us need most in our daily lives - SPACE. So it's great to be reminded of it visually. I once heard performance poet Jude Simpson say, "The space between the letters is spelt GRACE." And she is right. We need God's grace to live our lives at his pace and that requires that we put an extra letter in front of that word PACE and become more aware of our need for SPACE. Jesus took time and space to be with his dad, so how much more do we need time with our heavenly Father. 


A friend of mine calls her time out with God her 'cave time' after the prophet Elijah. During her 'cave time' she finds a way to have some 'alone time' away from work and a busy family life. Often she has to leave the house and go for a walk to get that 'cave time', but once she's had it, she's able to face life again.

Do you need some SPACE or 'cave-time'? 


Click to hear my 20 second poem SoulSpace

Struggling to keep going? In Christ you have the strength

I'm grateful to Catherine Davies of the Northumbria Community, for bringing this beautiful prayer to my attention. It's a great reminder that in Christ we have the strength to do all that he has called us to:

Christ has many tasks for us.

Some are easy; others are difficult.

Some bring honour; others bring reproach.

Some are to our liking, and coincide

with our own inclinations, and are

in our immediate best interest;

some are just the opposite.

In some we may please Christ

and please ourselves;

in others we cannot please Christ

except by denying ourselves.

Yet the power to take on all of these

is most definitely given us in Jesus;

for it is He who strengthens us,

and comes to help us when we are weak.

Celtic Daily Prayer from the Northumbria Community pubs. © Harper Collins"

Northumbria Community New Year Liturgy

Part of the New Year Liturgy from the Northumbria Community 'Celtic Daily Prayer' (c) HarperCollins:

The Opening Door

This is to be used as a ‘first-footing’ prayer. In Scotland, and the northern parts of England, New Year is given much importance: folk go from house to house wishing each other a good year ahead, and celebrate their good wishes with food and plenty of drink. It is often seen as important who should be the first to cross the threshold and ‘bring in the year’ once midnight has passed. This song (spoken or sung) asks Christ Himself to come and ‘first-foot’ for us. The door is opened to welcome Him in and invite His blessing, whether He comes in silence or in the company of other guests.

This day is a new day

that has never been before.

This year is a new year,

the opening door.

Opening of door

Enter, Lord Christ –

we have joy in Your coming.

You have given us life;

and we welcome Your coming.

I turn now to face You,

I lift up my eyes.

Be blessing my face, Lord;

be blessing my eyes.

May all my eye looks on

be blessed and be bright,

my neighbours, my loved ones

be blessed in Your sight.

You have given us life

and we welcome Your coming.

Be with us, Lord,

we have joy, we have joy.

This year is a new year,

the opening door.

Be with us, Lord,

we have joy, we have joy.

Ninian's Catechism

The New Oxford American Dictionary describes the word catechism as 'a summary of the principles of Christian religion in the form of a series of questions and answers'. I love the simplicity of St Ninian's Catechism which is taken from the book Celtic Fire by Robert Van de Weyer:

Question: What is best in this world?

Answer: To do the will of our Maker.

Question: What is his will?

Answer: That we should live according to the laws of his creation.

Question: How do we know those laws?

Answer: By study - studying the Scriptures with devotion.

Question: What tool has our Maker provided for this study?

Answer: The intellect, which can probe everything.

Question: And what is the fruit of study?

Answer: To perceive the eternal Word of God reflected in every plant and insect, every bird and animal, and every man and woman.

Desert Island Celtic books!

If you were marooned on a desert island and were only allowed to take one Celtic book, plus your Bible, which one would it be?

You'll see my selection, though I cheated and had two in my previous blog! But if I had to chose just one, it would be Celtic Daily Prayer by the Northumbria Community because it is so rich and varied and would sustain me for years.

Quaker Abbey chose Celtic Daily Prayer, but I like Pastor Chris Monroe's response here:

"That's easy to answer! It's the one that's held together with duct tape because I take it everywhere Celtic Daily Prayer. You can see my interview with Pastor Chris on Celtic Christianity by visiting his DesertFather blog.

Keltic Ken chose my book! Here's his response:

"Celtic Treasure - It points me to Christ, features scripture and original prose...and, the lovely photographs will be a welcome change from the same old scenery on that desert island!!!"