Sarum College logo
  • Learning
    • Short Courses
    • Prospective Students
    • Postgraduate Study & Research
      • Postgraduate study in Theology, Imagination & Culture
      • Postgraduate Study in Christian Spirituality
      • Postgraduate study in Theology, Ministry and Mission
    • Theology, Imagination & Culture
    • Contemporary Spirituality
    • Bible & Sacred Texts
    • Human Flourishing
    • Leadership Learning
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Private Stays, Retreats, Study Breaks
    • Library
      • Guide to Library Services
  • Ministry
    • Ordination
      • Undergraduate Award
      • Postgraduate Award
      • Rural ministry
      • Parish-based pioneer ministry
    • Licensed Lay Ministry / Readers
    • Independent Study
  • Hospitality
  • Courses & Events Diary
  • Get in touch
Sarum College logo
  • About Us
    • Our People
    • Governance
  • Safeguarding
  • News
  • Donate
  • Learning
    • Short Courses
    • Prospective Students
    • Postgraduate Study & Research
      • Postgraduate study in Theology, Imagination & Culture
      • Postgraduate Study in Christian Spirituality
      • Postgraduate study in Theology, Ministry and Mission
    • Theology, Imagination & Culture
    • Contemporary Spirituality
    • Bible & Sacred Texts
    • Human Flourishing
    • Leadership Learning
    • Spiritual Direction
    • Private Stays, Retreats, Study Breaks
    • Library
      • Guide to Library Services
  • Ministry
    • Ordination
      • Undergraduate Award
      • Postgraduate Award
      • Rural ministry
      • Parish-based pioneer ministry
    • Licensed Lay Ministry / Readers
    • Independent Study
  • Hospitality
  • Courses & Events Diary
  • Get in touch

Sarum Pause for Reflection: Learning to Walk

Home News Sarum Pause for Reflection: Learning to Walk

Reflection

“I never thought a Red Kite could look cute,” observed my walking companion, as we watched two birds of prey playing in a windswept sky above the Chilterns scarp.

For several minutes they practised the near-vertical dive and the last-minute dodge out of the way, alternating roles of attack and defence. Quite a dangerous game, requiring dexterity and split-second timing. Then we realised: plumage identical, but one bird larger than the other – what we were watching was a flying lesson.

It’s that time of year: raptors give their offspring flying lessons; swans give cygnets swimming lessons, etc. The youngsters don’t always get it right! And on the Way of God’s Love, we are all toddlers.

Peter asked Jesus: just how often did he need to make it up with a colleague who kept making mistakes, letting everyone down, then saying sorry – seven times maybe? ‘No,’ said Jesus: ‘more like 70 x 7.’ Matthew 18:21-22

A mother will on occasion let her child make mistakes, like falling over and crying – so that the child learns. Because she loves the child, she will not let a situation get out of hand and become really dangerous. Admittedly, earthly parents don’t always get it right: sometimes children do get hurt and die. Our heavenly mother Jesus, however, always makes the right calls.

(Julian of Norwich, ‘A Revelation of Love’ Chapter 61)

|

Prayer

Jesus, my kind, resourceful, dearest mother, have mercy on me.

I’ve messed up – I am a mess! and I don’t take after you at all. I can’t put things right, I don’t know where to begin, except in this: by asking You for the help only You can give.

Amen

Action

Towards evening – before tiredness sets in – for many people is a good time to sit down with our heavenly parent and review the day: to see what went well (and give thanks) and where we could have done better (’fess up, move on). In a monastery, the General Confession – saying sorry to God and to our brothers & sisters – is not during a morning service: it is in the evening, at the start of Compline, which is the last liturgical act of a day.

Share this reflection here.

A reflection from Jennifer Brooker ObJN, who has been a frequent visitor of Sarum College. She has a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford and master’s degree in theology awarded by Durham University.


Previous postNext post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sarum College logo

Get in touch

  • info@sarum.ac.uk
  • 01722 424800

Find us on maps

  • Sarum College, 19 The Close, Salisbury, SP1 2EE, UK

Stay in the know

Sign up to our newsletter

Learning

  • Prospective Students
  • Theology, Imagination & Culture
  • Contemporary Spirituality
  • Bible & Sacred Texts
  • Exploring Theology
  • Human Flourishing
  • Leadership Learning
  • Spiritual Direction

Postgraduate study & research

  • Postgraduate Study in Christian Spirituality
  • Postgraduate study in Theology, Imagination & Culture
  • Postgraduate study in Theology, Ministry and Mission
  • Library

Ministry

  • Ordination
  • Licensed Lay Ministry / Readers
  • Independent Study
  • Parish-based pioneer ministry
  • Postgraduate Award
  • Rural ministry
  • Undergraduate Award

The College

  • About Us
  • Travel to Sarum College
  • Our People
  • Governance
  • Hospitality
  • Private Stays, Retreats, Study Breaks
  • Work with us

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy|Accessibility

© 2022 Sarum College|Registered Charity No. 1161253|Company No. 9510356|Sarum College's trading subsidiary is Sarum College Services Ltd, Company No. 1931038|Website by blue bee

Sign up to our newsletter

Fill in and submit the form below and we'll add you to our mailing list for news about Sarum College.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.