We were sitting in evening prayer, a contemplative service, listening to the wind and our hearts. Storm Bram was blowing a hooley outside, and there was a bump. As we finished the service we explored the forecourt to see what had happened: a car parked under tree had been hit by a large branch, but it appeared undamaged by it. Two days ago someone ran into my vehicle on a dark rainy night in Glasgow. We stood in the pouring rain and together surveyed the damage with the to

Autumn   The leaves are falling, falling as if from far up, as if orchards were dying high in space. Each leaf falls as if it were motioning "no." And tonight the heavy earth is falling away from all other stars in the loneliness. We're all falling. This hand here is falling. And look at the other one. It's in them all. And yet there is Someone, whose hands infinitely calm, holding up all this falling.   Rainer Maria Rilke November 15 th  is the beginning of the 40 days of th

Autumn is a lovely time at the Bield, we have some beautiful trees which look magnificent in the soft sunlight as their leaves turn golden.  Our chapel too is decorated with autumn hues of our home-grown pumpkins and gourds. A celebration of harvest, of all that God provides and of the season of creation, of all that god has bought into being.  Part of that display is something I have created – a sculpture of an apple made of wire mesh, with a golden core.  It is called ‘Gold

In the July blog, we considered two of the siblings of Bethany – Mary and Martha – and how the qualities they demonstrate in Luke...

I’ve been spending a lot of time recently thinking about boundaries.  It started with a creative meditation exercise on the theme of...

July is not only a summer holiday month, but also a month that includes special recognition in many church calendars of some significant...

Over the past several months, I have been reminded of the importance and simplicity of presence. It is the essence of the Bield, whether...

Wandering through the Bield grounds today, I paused to gaze at the empty cross made more visible through the trees by the draping of the...

The month of April has begun in spectacular style at the Bield.  The many coloured flowers in the walled garden and the planters have...

Small yellow daffodils have emerged at the foot of our cross, the carpets of snowdrops are beginning to fade away, dead looking branches...

“Be still and know that I am God”  Psalm 46:10   There is something very special and very sacred about silence.  As an extrovert, I never...

“ Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you ” Isaiah 60:1 As I start to emerge from the advent...

We grow accustomed to the Dark - When Light is put away - As when the Neighbour holds the Lamp To witness her Goodbye -   A Moment - We...

The garden today is covered in fallen leaves, yellow, golden brown and red carpeting, with such a colourful pattern, the still green...

The title of this blog is the name of a project being rolled out by WWF (Worldwide Fund for Nature) in their ITV television campaign....

“To lust for joy is to lust for the God of life. To make joy where at first it seems there is none is to become co-creator with the God...

It may not have felt like much of a summer, with many rainy days and only a few bright sunny ones.  However here at the Bield we have...

This month at the Bield, we are blessed with the gift of the Retreat Association Icon residing with us. We are welcoming guests and day...

The photo shows the latest addition to the grounds of the retreat centre- the Japanese Garden- lovingly designed and developed by the...

Blossoming flowers, emerging buds, growing grasses – springtime is a wonderful, colourful time, lifting our spirits in celebration of the...