3rd February Retreating from the world


For the past couple of days I have stepped off the treadmill and been away on a retreat alongside ministerial collegues from within the Nottingham and Derby district. Based at The Heys in Swanick, it was only a 20 min drive up the road compared to the 2 1/2 hours it used to take to do similar 'time outs' when I was based in Wales.

As well as being given new insights into familiar bible passages, it was also a chance to put personalities to people I had previously only heard of through their roles / positions within the district and also heirarchy of the wider church. As such the two days provided an opportunty to meet and greet, a chance to chill and slow down, a time to temporarily disengage with all the non essential phaf associated with our roles and to reengage with our calling. It was an enjoyable 48 hours, which is high praise from someone who doen't normally enjoy this sort of enforced get together.

It was also I hope a step back towards being more comfortable meeting face to face  rather then being trapped in a small window, shouting at the screen "Betty you're on mute!"

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