Familiar territories

Mallaig looked resplendent in the afternoon sunlight as the train arrived, five and a half hours after leaving Glasgow.  The port looks and feels very different to when I left here almost a fortnight ago, today was certainly warmer, but growth of gorse and heather is noticeably more advanced.   En route, in equally sharp contrast to the journey to Glasgow, the return through the West Highlands was one of almost uninterrupted stunning views across moor, mountain and loch alike.  I spent most of the journey simply soaking up the views alongside the line, living 'in the moment' of all that passed.  One benefit of the relatively twisty line, equally in parts on a softer foundation by necessity, is that the train takes a fairly gentle pace so there's time to take lots in.

Having stayed in the Mission Bunkhouse in the centre of Mallaig two weeks ago, I needed little 'checking in' so took managed an early evening walk, although it felt much like mid-afternoon as the sun was still relatively high and only a gentle breeze.  The forecast for tomorrow looks similar - I'm intending just a shorter walk to get back into my stride as I begin the next week's route which I'm hoping will get me down to Oban before a rest day there next Thursday.

                        (view over to Skye)

Friendships

I took the opportunity of being in Glasgow overnight to meet up with sailing friends from John Lewis, and this morning to have a coffee with a friend in ministry met 'remotely' during the pandemic.  We'd not met in person before today, so it was good to do so, and share in conversation on a variety of topics.

We touched on the purpose of sabbaticals, not just periods of sabbatical, but other regular periods of leisure, including each week and taking holiday.  And how should we spend that time?  

Obviously for this sabbatical, I've chosen to embark on something of a physical challenge: you might reasonably ask whether it is restful.  In one sense, no, I have been physically tired at the end of several days, but sleep and regular rest days seem to be handling that.  But what about other aspects of life?

Heart, soul, mind, strength

In response to some reading I've been doing, I've pondered on some words of scripture: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ( Deuteronomy 6:5)  These words from Hebrew scripture (for Christians, often referred to as the Old Testament) command God's people to offer all aspects of life to God.

In the Northumbria Community Morning Prayer which I use, heart/soul/might is expanded and reworded to heart/soul/mind/strength.  I'm no philosopher, but if each of these contributes to our whole being, then how does 'sabbatical' work for each?

I am beginning to feel refreshed in other ways - there's something energising for the soul about looking at the beautiful spots I've already encountered, and in the moving along there have been repeated moments of complete stillness, interrupted only by the rhythmic sounds of boots on the path.  That outer stillness has brought something peaceful within, what I sense a better mindfulness: whether that has a lasting impact, only time will tell, but as some have commented, some of that has been reflected in the style of this blog.  

Oh, and I'm enjoying it, even taking into account the days when the weather has been poor.  Certainly not one of those today!

           (Mallaig Harbour in the background)