A message from Fr John

Dear Friends

Good morning

As I indicated in yesterday’s newsletter, the starting point of any retreat is the willingness to give time. The second is to ask for the grace of being able to listen - to listen to oneself, to others for sure and there begin to listen to God speaking to us.

And so, today let’s have a little exercise in listening  - pencil and paper might help. What is listening like for you?

1. I find it easy to listen to …..

2. One person I know who listens to me is ….

3. I know that I am listened to when ….

4. I know that I am not listened to when ….

5 I find it difficult to listen to people who ….

6. One person I find it difficult to listen to is ….

7. When I listen to someone, I find it difficult to ….

8. One listening skill I need to develop is ….

So far so good

Listening goes so far …. hearing also takes time.

What do we need to hear?

What would we like to hear?

From whom would we like to hear it?

And so ….

If we want an adult conversation with God, can we be quiet enough? Can we still our hearts sufficiently to let God be God?

cf. 1 Kings 19: 11 - 12 ’the Lord was in the sound … of sheer silence’

St Joseph, companion on our journey, pray for us

Every blessings

Fr John