My portable space

From my time in Birmingham I was blessed to be welcomed to Donald Eadie's room, a sacred space where he regularly prays, reads and meets with people. It is an amazing space surrounded by things of meaning, images, the odd quote and most importantly where Donald is...

Since I've been at Keele I've made a real effort to create in my 'office' a space that enriches both me, but hopefully also those who meet with me there. In my office are various objects, posters, sentimental items and symbols that indicate things of importance to me. Such as, the chalice and pattern from my ordination, a rainbow peace flag, postcards and posters of inspiring quotes and images of memorable places. If I wasn't trying hard to take a step back I'd pop into the chapel to take a picture!

What then of the space, physical and metaphorical that sabbatical brings? I somehow knew that I needed to create intentional spaces and ways to mark out the time and space I have as 'different', as sacred even. For me two things are becoming helpful markers. The first a gift from Taize, it was given after the last chapel trip (which I didn't go on), the candle and stand has sat in my office but unlit until now. Since Monday I've been lighting it, particularly at moments when I wanted to be more intentional about the space I was in, or to acknowledge God's presence in that moment. I was struck however when last night the kids took it upon themselves to light it during our meal. We do often have a candle on the table but somehow it felt different that they lit this one.


The second item to help me hold and create space is the wooden cut out cross by Jonathan Hemingray, something I got many years ago and links me back to my time in Derby in the mid 1990s (That makes me feel old when I realise that many of the students I work with weren't even born then!!). With it being Lent I felt I wanted a cross with me and I've always found the dynamic nature of this one helpful.

I will be inhabiting other spaces during my sabbatical but where possible I will take one or both items with me, to help mark out the space. Someday I'll work out why things like this have become so important for a minister from such a low church background!  For now I'm happy to acknowledge that they help me to create and mark the space of sabbatical as particularly special, as 'thin' in the celtic understanding, as sacred space.