The Good Shepherd invites us to rest awhile among the grassy meadows and flowing streams. He wants us to relax in his presence – to be nourished, strengthened and renewed. In this place, we may turn from a closed fist of denial, frustration and turmoil to an open hand of acceptance, relaxation and serenity. After the rest, we may be invited to walk more closely with him, to be freer and more confident and to be better able to navigate the often-hazy paths of our lives. It is true that we all need to work on maintaining balance in our lives, but we are not alone. We can learn so much from modern and contemplative wisdom to live life with great richness, and when all is said and done, we can rejoice that we are infinitely loved.

Ad majorem Dei gloriam
(‘To the greater glory of God”)

Too many of us learn to ‘love’ distress and anxiety: we say it is the way of work and the world. Just five minutes of silence seems pointless. But we get in touch with the ‘inner teacher’ when we find times to be still in our day, connecting us with deep peace and balance. It is available to be tapped into as we live in the moment: talking to people, working on tasks, walking with a fresh breeze on our faces, even running. I am so grateful that `I listened to the invitation of the wise man at the retreat centre. It has stirred me to stop fixing my eyes on the ground and see the beautiful ordinary

Excerpted from Bursting Out in Praise: Spirituality & Mental Health by Gavin Thomas Murphy
(pp: 7, 13)