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How often do we berate ourselves when we realise our reactions to others can so often be unhelpful to them and us.
This has got me thinking how stubborn I can be at times – yes this is often a kneejerk reaction, but before we have had time to consider a more mellow and easy going response, our position can become entrenched and we find it hard to back down and admit our need to listen, soften our heart and value another’s opinion and advice.
From a seasonal perspective, this New Year is always a good time for us to step back and take time out to consider, ponder and think of our life, its priorities, commitments and focus for the months and year ahead. The previous months may well have been full of rushing, preparing and celebrating which is all to the good: but maybe we’re now in need of time to re-charge, listen, learn and enjoy space.
Aligning Our Lives
From a Christian standpoint the spiritual discipline of taking a retreat, spending time in prayer and reading can help us to do this well. Some may of course say that this is an extravagant use of time – but to those who experience it; it can become a deep treasure as we seek to align our lives to the call and direction of our Lord and Saviour whose special birth we have just celebrated together this Christmas.
As well as our forthcoming Parish retreat in April which is at Lindesarne, we will also this year for the first time be recommending and encouraging a group of us to attend together the Cedarwood Christian Festival held at Bedale, North Yorkshire on the weekend of 10th to 12th July.
More information to follow, but do start to ponder whether this week/weekend away could just be a time to invest in your relationship with God, worship together and deepen our fellowship and friendship – all in the beautiful surroundings of the Holy Island (April) and Thorp Perrow Arboretum (July).
Happy New Year to you all and every blessing for 2026.
Rev Charles Burton
Published in the January 2026 edition of the Parish magazines.
You can order Parish magazines, which contain additional articles, by visiting All Saints or Christ Church
Main photograph courtesy of Unsplash.