The online retreat - mid way thoughts.

This is definately helping and its so nice to know there is something to go at. I'm lucky the way work is/isn't at the minute that I can get to church. The way I've been doing it is just rock up in my usual clothes, shorts in this weather, it's absolutely fine. I don't know any of the people there and nor am I really interested, what is interesting however, is how busy the church is. Not busy as in hustle and bustle, but how calming and genuine the mood is there.

                                                      "I'd start every day with it if I could" 

 A couple of things that I've settled into as if I've been doing it all my life and its a quick win on the three times a day praying recommendation. Firstly I get a reading to my phone every morning at 7am. That gets me straight into scripture and its most often than not the same reading in church. I asked my guide if we all have the same service around the country, she said yes, I think that' s amazing. A point that will be returned to. 

 Let's return to it right now, across the world, there is a group of people, the largest christian denomination ALL saying the same thing. That's really powerful and to be a part of that is a privilege. Looking around, there are so many at the church that I can't recognise faces and the faces are genuinely diverse. On the one hand you think, everyone is here because they are all lost. But deep down, I believe the opposite is true. 

 We are there because we are found. Found by God. He is there. He was there all those years ago with Jesus. There is an established way of going on, how the creator would like us to be. 

Now for the private praying, I spoke to my guide and she sent me this..

So I start with the consideration on the scripture that comes to my phone and it gives me an idea of what will come ahead, either at church or in the Pray as you go App which we'll discuss in a moment. Whilst I do appreciate that the thought of reading and hearing the same scripture three times in a day may seem too much and highly repetitive - it isn't. There was a tattoo on someone's arm that has stayed with me. Hopefully I'm not the only one that is always interested to see which phrase someone chose to have on their body forever? In fact there are a surprising amount of religious ones..but this particular one said

"The afternoon knows what the morning never expected"

Its surprising what you can achieve between each prayer sesssion and it helps you understand and better consider the tract. There is an element of comfort and routine - which I believe is one of the secrets of success in the Catholic church and if all this isn't enough to convince you, just imagine if it were three different readings each day.....

So the Pray as you go App - just download it. You'll love it. I've never known anything like it!

In a change to the advertised proceedings, I attended a Catenian dinner last night, very good it was too. Of course I didnt join the church to get myself a social life but after a long day I decided to try it. It was really nice, I was with the ladies and although they are all wives and I'm unmarried, they welcomed me with open arms. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to their next event. There may be one near you try here https://www.thecatenians.com