Trying again.

Categories: convent

Tags: spirituality, SCM

Date: 08 March 2004 22:41:15

I just wrote what I wanted to say and lost it due to dodgy internet connection. Grrr.

I was saying that I spent the weekend at the SCM Annual Conference and it was great. I'm not saying that because I have a soft spot for the organisation, which I do, but because it's really affected me. It wasn't so much the individual events. They were good, but they didn't speak to me. The weekend was just great.

It makes a change to spend time with young folk, and I forgot quite how much you can find to talk about late into the night. It was absolutely brilliant to catch up with folk I haven't seen for over a year and to meet huge numbers of people I've never seen before. Naturally there were some people I was quite willing to leave behind when I left, but it was relatively few.

I found the weekend (generally, nonspecifically) inspiring, affirming, positive and challenging. When I left yesterday I thought I hadn't taken anything particularly spiritual from the weekend, but by tonight I realised I have. Lots. The weekend had such a strong feeling of community. It seemed as if everyone had got involved and was welcome. There was a good level of diversity throughout the group and that was really good to see.

I only ended up with a relatively little amount of sleep because I was off doing things. I did the workshop which involved paints and pastels, but really hate 'creative' stuff. I really enjoyed it. It's strange that recently I've been enjoying things that even 3 months ago I hated. I've been writing my blog (obviously), making cards and now even painting. It was good. I have to confess, I didn't paint anything complicated, or do it well, but that wasn't the point.

The setting was in the glorious Peak District, and the journey back was so beautiful. It gave me a good opportunity to reflect on the time at the conference.

The theme for the weekend was 'Just Visions?'. It has inspired me in two ways really. I want to make my dreams just, but also not merely visions. I'm feeling inspired and positive, and I'm not even taking the herbs at the moment. Even the trials of work couldn't dampen my mood. It's weird but good.

My time away has also left me with clarity and purpose, at least for now. How long it will last, I don't know, but right now that doesn't bother me. I'm just buzzing now, and it's great.

Anyway, I'll go off and dream elsewhere. Maybe once I've had some sleep things will look different, but I hope the positivity won't go in a hurry.

I'd better get doing...