We shall not cease from exploration/ And the end of all our exploring/ Will be to arrive where we started/ And know the place for the first time.
T S Eliot

The supposed 'inner life' may actually be nothing but a brave and absurd attempt to evade reality altogether. Under the pretext that what is 'within' is in fact real, spiritual, supernatural, etc, one cultivates neglect and contempt for the 'external' as worldly, sensual, material and opposed to grace. Meditation has no point and no reality unless it is firmly rooted in life.
Thomas Merton

Almighty God, in Christ you make all things new: transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Collect for the 2nd Sunday of Epiphany

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?" Mark 8.34-37

Life’s journey

Exploring Faith pages: Action, Life’s Journey, The living Gospel, Healing, Prayer, Bible Study, The Body of Christ.
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He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.  Mark 16.7

We are on the way together

What does life hold for us? Love, hope, security and joy can seem hard to find in an uncertain world full of pressures and worries. Where can we look for meaning and ask questions, or receive newness of life? As a church we aim to create friendly, open and supportive spaces where we can share our experiences and help each other through difficulties. At one of our groups these were some of our questions, and some of the things people said:

A Christian who has inspired me
How I came to faith and/or My questions and doubts
I know God loves me because/when…
What the Good News of Jesus Christ means to me

“I am never alone, there is always someone there – God – with whom to talk through a problem, knowing He will understand and give me comfort and support.”

“I have no fear of death because I know that the love of God will carry me through, warts and all.”

“My son still insists I am a ‘hippy pagan’, but as long as I am now a Christian hippy pagan I do not mind.”

“When God gives, he gives with open hands.”

“The annual recital of the collects, which have a wonderful calming and assuring effect.”

“I came to realise that it is OK – quite “normal” in fact – to doubt.”

“Love comes to us from God.”

“They involved me in their church work.”

“I struggle with the varying degrees of sin.”

“I blamed God and hated him.”

“I was aware of a presence.”

“A gradual strengthening of faith as the years went by.”

Colyford Common

Colyford Common

“As the years go by, the bible proves to be a fascinating and inexhaustible source of spiritual treasure.  It gradually opens its meaning, and and I go there to meet Jesus and learn how to live according to his love.”

“I would say I am coming to faith, because I see it as an ongoing process.  I have often prayed, “Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief”, and I’m sure that will continue.  There have been a couple of more dramatic moments in the process, but it can also take a long time for the significance of an event to unfold.”

“My preparation for Communion gave me back my belief in God.  The Eucharist gives me an awareness of the presence of God – a nearness to him and of His love.  But at other times my faith sometimes falters in the face of difficulties and tragedies – why them? why me? why that baby? and it takes either the witness of another’s faith to restore mine or time taken to remember the occasions when God’s love has been evident.  The comfort of belonging to a group/a church with people of faith gives me confidence to throw out doubts and cling to trust.”

“At this time in the church calendar as Good Friday comes near, I think particularly of Jesus on the cross and the great sacrifice made for us all – for me.  In moments of personal sadness and once when I was in great danger I was aware of a presence of comfort, support and love.  I find too that the comfortable words in the communion service of the prayer book are a constant reminder of God’s love and do make me feel “comfortable”.”

“In general, it has been some of the more difficult moments in my life which have encouraged my faith by making me feel my need for God and making me aware of his support.  Some of the good moments have increased my faith by calling out my gratitude and trust.  The church community has shaped and strengthened me.  And reading the gospel has helped me to understand that faith is a living response to God, not an idea.”

Entertaining ladies from Exeter Mosque

Entertaining ladies from Exeter Mosque

A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet. Lao-tzu