Incommunicado

Most of us have a smart phone, access to the internet, social media etc etc and do so without thinking about it. On my travels, this is something I've not take for granted as a good number of the sites are in isolated locations, however, I've also been surprised at the strength of signal in some places - 5G in the highlands was not what was expected!

Moving on to the Isle of Skye and the campsite at Glenbrittle, the booking confirmation advised 'There is no Wi-Fi or mobile phone signal at Glenbrittle. The nearest available 4G signal is at the Fairy Pools, so be prepared and contact loved ones or download information before you arrive on site.' I was well prepared - and they weren't wrong; a few miles down the road from the campsite signal went from a bar at best to absolutely nothing! Two nights of no contact with the outside world, with friends and family. No ability to download the newspaper or see what was going on in the wider world. It was very strange, though to be halfway up a mountain at Fairy Pools to suddenly get a decent phone signal!

Reflecting on this disconnection with the outside world, I felt remarkably relaxed about it. It was, after all, only for a couple of nights. And there was a traditional payphone on site so there wasn't complete detachment. In many respects, this situation took me back many years to my time in Taizé as a volunteer. I'd arrived in September 1988. These were the days of no internet with the only way of keeping in touch with others was through letter or payphone. On site there were a couple of places where there was a collection of phone boxes that took phone cards as well as cash. Those were the days when not being in regular contact with friends and family was just a given. It was accepted. People didn't used to ring their friends from a pay phone when they went away. There might have been a postcard or maybe even a letter - but nothing more. My parents used to write regularly and we had, from memory, a weekly phone call (although in my first week or so the phone calls were a little more frequent as I settled in and got over my home-sickness).

I'm not sure what the outcome of my reflection is, if I'm honest. It did move into thinking more on detachment and lack of communication...........

In/Ex-trovert?

As I've got older I've discovered that I need more space and time away from people and on my own. It's not a huge thing and I very much love people; being with them and around them - it's the part of my ministry I really love. But there are times when I get all 'people-d' out and have to have a time away from people. There are times of the year, in particular, Christmas and Easter when all the services are done that I just need some time in isolation. I've always had a streak of introversion running through me. There are times when I don't want to be with people and I'm not great first thing in the morning - I need time to adjust to the world; it's not long but 20/30 minutes or so without any conversation - just me and my cuppa.

This trip has been one of being on my own. I've been surrounded by people but I've had no burning desire to get to know people or to make new friends. When I first set out, my time in Taizé was, in the main, in silence. I didn't participate in the small discussion groups and I ate on my own. However, it was still good to listen to the bible introduction for the over-35s spending the week in Taizé and during the thrice daily Common Prayer, I sat in the main body of the church surrounded by people. That was important.

And then onto my travels around the UK. I've enjoyed being on my own and doing my own thing. I've not cycled as much as I've wanted to and the weather has not been fantastic. However, I'm now getting to the stage of looking forward to being home, to spending time with Nikki as we then continue my sabbatical together on a river cruise through Europe. It might be more difficult on a boat with 100 other people in close proximity to be an introvert! I have, though, throughout my travels had relatively decent connectivity so have been in touch via WhatsApp, phone etc. so it's not been in so many respects an isolated time.

In the Gospels we read of Jesus taking himself off to be alone. To be in isolation and spend time in prayer. It must have been nigh on impossible for him to be any sort of introvert or to find more moments to be alone. His 40 days in the wilderness as he made preparations for his ministry before word spread of his fame, preaching, teaching and healing. I wonder what he was like in the mornings or whether there were moments when he just didn't 'do' people?

I think for me, my own thoughts are that I need to carve out more time in my diary - not out of any selfishness or wanting to be more introvert but for me to be able to reflect and pray through my own ministry and work. At the end of his book 'Dynamic of the Provisional', Brother Roger writes this:-

'In contemplative waiting upon God everything becomes desirable again. Pessimism is watered down and yields to the optimism of faith. Then and only then is it possible to consider what is coming towards us and to welcome the events of the present time, to run towards our neighbour, to make a new start, to go forward. It is only in contemplative waiting upon God that we can find new momentum.

Wait!

Wait for the dawning of a life, when God will gather us into his arms forever.

Wait fro God to act, in ourselves and in others.

Wiat fro a communion within the people of God which will spark a communion among all people.

Wait for the springtime of the church.

Wait, in spite of everything, for the spirit of mercy, for love which is not a consuming fire is not charity, and without charity we would be professing ecuminism without hope.

God is preparing for us a new Pentecost which will set every one of us ablaze with the fire of his love. Our part is to run and meet the event which will upset all our human calculations and bring life to our dry bones.

Run towards, not away!

Run to me mankind's tomorrow, a technological civilization fully charged with potential for human development.

Run to meet all who cannot believe, and to struggle alongside the most exploited.

Run to support a rebirth of the People of God, asking and imporing the, in season and out of season, to come together, and so to raise up in the worl an unmistakable sign of our brotherly love.

Run towards a Christian community wearied by its long journeyings, and do everything possible to keep the ecumenical wave from falling back.'

Waiting and running in the joy of the Gospel. I can sign up to that.