Retreat

I took a group of students on retreat yesterday. Time out to stop, remember who they are, consider where they’re going, what they’re doing. It was a chilly day in the New Forest, with room for reflection and worship, listening and talking, silence and sound. The warmth of the interludes in the village hall, the church and the pub nicely counterbalanced by the nip in the January air. I even got space during the day for my own time alone, the bridleway a bit slushy underfoot, a buzzard cold against the cloud, and the enjoyment of an unexpected companion for ten minutes.

Such days are a godsend. Will boating be too full of top paddles, ropes, watching your rubbing strakes and concerns about those who abuse the system to allow for times like these? I hope not.