There was little alternative than to drive from the South East of England to the South West of Scotland and then on over the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland and the border, ‘bandit’ country neighbouring the Republic. Thankfully it was a great day, the roads were relatively quiet and by adding a ‘tithe’ to the speed limit as decreed by the letter of the law, (Caesar) I was able to move speedily up to Cumbria (rendering unto God and a fast Accord!) to spend a very pleasant and relaxed evening with Gordon and Margaret, good friends and long term Companions of the Community. My prayer and their hope was that they may have accompanied me to Ireland but the limitations that come with advancing years required them to be sensible and stay at home and pray for the forthcoming trip. It was lovely to catch up with them, to pray and end the day with that missing element from the night before ~ a single malt.
The following morning pulling back the curtains there was snow lying on the fields around us and for the first 30 miles of my journey across to Stranraer for the ferry, I drove through some very wintry conditions. The snow subsided as I moved north but the gales were raging all around and I had very real questions and concerns as to whether the ferry or any ferries would be sailing. To my pleasant surprise, there was a ‘gap’ in the weather front and I made the journey across the Irish Sea in conditions that were anything but calm and for those, like me, who enjoy being on the sea, the force 6 was quite exciting.
Within two hours of arriving in Belfast, the storms had returned and after a lovely reunion with my eldest son Ben and family, Judith, Isaac, Patrick and Eden, I battled my way through howling gales and falling debris to speak and lead the Community of Prayer at Saul.
It was the first day on what was to be one of the most significant journeys I’ve made to Ireland. At Saul there was just the sense of a strong connectivity that exists between the Community and what is happening there. There was also the feeling that I was bringing some appreciated leadership and insight into both their present and the future.
The following two days I led a retreat for church leaders from both the North and South of Ireland at Newcastle, where, ‘the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea’. Given the storms of the earlier part of the week, we enjoyed some beautiful late autumnal weather with warmth from the sun.
I never fail to appreciate the privilege of journeying with people as they seek to grow in their love of God and in their own desire and sense of belonging and identity, wrestling for some with big issues of life and faith.
Linking up with good friends, staying in their homes, sharing with them at meal tables, it was lovely also to stay at my close friend, Stephen’s cottage by the beach at Cranfield Point, the most southerly point in Northern Ireland. Stephen has become a special friend to Shirley and I and our family, including my late parents, as we’ve shared many significant experiences and rites of passage moments together. He has in many ways been a gatekeeper for the Community in Ireland; through his hospitality, generosity and friendship he has prayed and paved the way for significant relationships. Therefore is not insignificant that whilst staying at his cottage with another good friend Neil that I attended the first Community Weekend in Ireland. Over thirty, 30 somethings gathered for the weekend at An Cuan, Rostrevor, the newly formed YWAM base, being pioneered and led so well by Jonny and Jen.
It was a great weekend and the clear sense that after many years of praying, journeying and sharing, something creative, prophetic, apostolic and radical was emerging with a very special group of people, many of whom were gathering around another of our close friends and Community Companions, Ken and Claire. Watch this space!
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