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Empty Space

30/3/2021

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Recently I was browsing at our local second-hand bookshop and came across a small paperback by Anne Morrow Lindberg, called Gift from the Sea. The Lindberg name attracted me, and, yes, Anne was the wife of Charles Lindberg.* The book is a series of profound meditations on different seashells that Anne found on her retreats at the beach, often in a favourite island setting. Towards the end of the book, Anne reflects on her tendency on retreat to initially collect as many shells as possible, but then, as time goes by, she becomes more selective. She notices that one or two shells, surrounded by empty space, speak to her more deeply about their beauty and uniqueness than many shells clustered together. Similarly, she reflects, the retreat touches her so deeply because she has few activities, few demands, and lots of empty space. She goes on to say:
 
             Only in space are events and objects and people unique and significant – and therefore beautiful. A tree has significance if one sees it against the empty face of sky. A note in music gains significance from the silences on either side. A candle flowers in the space of night. Even small and casual things take on significance if they are washed in space, like a few autumn grasses in the corner of [a Japanese ink] painting, the rest of the page bare.
 
This week is Holy Week. It is filled with significance for Christians, and it can be a very busy and cluttered time for churches and families. But may we find empty space to sit with the uniqueness and beauty of this time, both for ourselves, the world, and for all creation.
 
May God,  who seeks to bless us and the world through Jesus, bless you this Holy Week.
 
Brian Holliday
  
* Charles and Anne were both pioneer aviators, Charles famously flying the first solo trans-Atlantic flight in the Spirit of St Louis. Tragically, in 1932,  their first child was mysteriously kidnapped and murdered.

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  • Home
  • About
    • Management >
      • Annual Reports
    • Membership
    • Subscribe
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact & Donations
  • Events
    • Events in Perth
    • Events in the SouthWest
    • The Stitt Oration
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • Daily Prayer >
      • Preface
      • Introduction to Daily Prayer
      • Short Forms of Daily Prayer >
        • Short Morning Prayer
        • Short Midday Prayer
        • Short Midday Prayer with Eucharist
        • Short Evening Prayer
        • Short Prayer at the End of the Day
      • Daily Prayer for the Week >
        • Sunday Morning Prayer
        • Sunday Evening Prayer
        • Monday Morning Prayer
        • Monday Evening Prayer
        • Tuesday Morning Prayer
        • Tuesday Evening Prayer
        • Wednesday Morning Prayer
        • Wednesday Evening Prayer
        • Thursday Morning Prayer
        • Thursday Evening Prayer
        • Friday Morning Prayer
        • Friday Evening Prayer
        • Saturday Morning Prayer
        • Saturday Evening Prayer
      • Pilgrims >
        • First Week of the Month
        • Second Week of the Month
        • Third Week of the Month
        • Fourth Week of the Month
        • Fifth Week of the Month
        • Pilgrims' Resources
  • Spiritual Direction
    • Spiritual Direction Training
    • Dayspring Library
  • Reflections
    • Poetry
  • Dayspring Shop