I got back from Dublin on Wednesday night and I'm really glad to be home. I'm always amazed at how tired I am after travelling but I guess at something like a retreat you don't really get any space so you're on show the whole time. My highlights include...
***Seeing my Granddad for the first time in five years. It really was lovely.
***Eating everything.
***Watching 'The Punisher' with Aunty Anne (she has an unexpected penchant for violant action films - who'da thunk it?). I enjoyed it far more than the reviews suggested I would.
***Arriving at Ballykissangel!
***Marvelling at the goregous retreat centre. It was awe inspiring countryside, it made it much easier to worship God.
***Listening to the London Philamonic Ochestra playing the strar wars theme tune in Leicester Square down my Dad's phone and learning that he'd bought my brother a £90 (!!!) replica Darth Vader Lightsaber. I am not jealous, I am not.
***Meeting some pretty amazing guys and gals working with young people in the Methodist Church of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
***Realising how vulnerable I can feel and having all the things I guess I take pride in count for nothing. I didn't get to wow anyone with my energy, enthusiasm, witty stories or knowledge of Ez 1 because God asked me to shut up. Everyone was my age or older and in full time ministry. There were some really quality people in the rooom who have no questions about their nationality, where they belong or if that even matters. It was really good/hard having to rely on God.
***Lots of quality quiet time with God. I think I'm beginning to hear his voice clearer.
***I found it so easy to worship, it was wonderful.
***Realising that I'm stalling starting my year of engagement towards taking the vow of the Mustard Seed. I really just need to start and work it out as I live it out. Charlotte - lets get to it.
***Testing my firefighting skills as I carried a bin full of water up, then down, then back up the hill to help put out a forest fire. I kept muttering under my breath that if this turned out to be some sort of sick team building excerise gone wrong then someone was getting the water down their back.
***Discovering a gorgeous little brook lined with bluebells. I wittled away a few hours with my journal enjoying the smells and sounds of that little hideaway.
***Buying 12 bars of Irish Cadbury's Dairy Milk at the ariport and having to pay for them under the judgemental look of the cashere.
All in all it was a good trip. Freeman was an absolute life saver and the time did whip by in beautiful countryside with lovely people. I am very grateful I got the opportunity to go. xc