Just Before Christmas

Well, it's been a long time since my last update. My 2011 postings have been sporadic, but at least it's not been quite as bad as the Great Blog Drought of 2008.

It's been a somewhat hectic couple of months. There are going to be some changes here at Canowindra for 2012. On a personal level, the biggest of those changes is that I have been asked to become the dean of the centre. I have already suffered a few 'James Dean' jokes, and expect this to be a theme for the year. Still, at least it's branching out from jokes about the English and bald people.

A year ago I was preparing for my trip to the UK, which turned out to be a excellent experience. 2011 has been a signficant year for me in terms of my personal spiritual development. David Benner says that "[t]he essence of Christian Spirituality is following Christ on a journey of personal transformation" and for me 2011 has been a rich year. I have come to value spiritual disciplines as powerful tools for affecting real change in lives - for me they have been the foundation of a growing daily awareness of the presence of God and the reality of an experience of Him.

2012 will be different again, I am sure, but I am confident that it will be another good year.

Lord Jesus,
May the sweet burning ardour of your love
Absorb my soul entirely,
And make me a stranger to all
That is not You or for You.

St. Francis of Assisi