Wednesday 1st June 2005
As the title suggests, this new journal provides inspiration for the discovery of your own ‘quiet spaces.’ In his introduction Bishop Colin Fletcher reassures those of us of us who may ‘feel wary of non-conventional kinds of spiritual expression that disturb our own ideas of what faith demands,’ that… ‘the God whom we worship encompasses every form of human experience.’ Themed poems, meditations, prayers and articles then encourage the reader to step outside their comfort zones to try new ways of encountering God.
In this opening edition, subjects range from ‘What is creativity?’, ‘Painting our prayers,’ and ‘Saint Francis for today,’ to ‘Creation’s window on suffering,’ ‘Why go on retreat?’ and ‘Musings of a middle-aged mystic’. Contributors include (amongst others) BRF regulars David Winter, Margaret Silf, Rob Gillion and Veronica Zundel. Input and feedback are invited.
I loved this book, finding it an invaluable companion on a recent quiet day. I appreciated the sheer diversity of ideas, simply put, but with plenty of pointers to further resources. This is a book for dipping into and musing over, not for ripping through in a single session! And how refreshing to discover a publication which maintains a balance between being and doing; the cerebral and the practical. (Although a friend and I did have a giggle at the exhortation to ‘give birth to your images!’). Of course, we are not all expected to be Van Goghs, rather to ‘let go and let God’ lead us into new areas of prayer.
My only criticism is that ‘Quiet Spaces’ is only quarterly. I can’t wait until the next edition – theme: ‘The journey’ is published.
Jane Sigrist is married with two teenagers and worships at St Nicolas, Newbury. She is studying for a Certificate in Christian Studies.
Quiet Spaces
Exploring Prayer and Spirituality Volume One: Creation and Creativity
Published by BRF.
£16.95 annual subscription.