Tuesday 14 January 2014

Bei Komorebi

Late.

Dark.

Quiet.

A dog barking far away.

The evening spent with my family, chatting, carding wool and spinning at the fireside.  Our Alice mentioned to her friend who works at the wholefood co-op that she was in need of some fleece, and the friend has a friend who works at the animal sanctuary where they had some Jacob sheep in need of shearing.  In due course, when we were in buying our oats and nettle tea and olive oil, the co-op friend reported that the sheep had been sheared and fleece was on its way.  So three big bags of lovely chocolate and cream fleece is in slow process of carding and spinning.  It feels surprisingly harsh and prickly after my cousin’s alpaca, but it’s good stuff!

The woodstove throws out plenty of heat, and where I thought it would feel unpleasantly cold to make my way home to Komorebi at the end of the evening, in fact the January night felt refreshing – welcome.  My kerosene lantern does duty as a room heater too.

Today – Plough Monday – is the beginning of the agricultural year.  The days are lengthening and lightening steadily and England is turning toward the light.

In the garden Christmas roses are blooming, and the lemon stars of the winter jasmine.  We are still waiting for the deep cold, and no doubt it’s bound to come, but just at the moment heavy rainfall alternates with sunshine days that feel like early spring.

Today I blacked the stove (important because it’s made of pressed steel not cast iron, so will quickly rust if left uncared for), and sent for apron and pinafore dress patterns from the King’s Daughters. 

This morning was our All Sisters meeting of the Servants With Jesus – such loving women, prayerful and strong.

My thoughts turn again and again just now to a dear friend making her first steps on the journey to becoming a nun – may her way be blessed, may she never lack the assurance and encouragement she needs from day to day.  May her heart be sure in making choices, and may God in his kindness give her the opportunities for joy and the provision for happiness.  May she be a blessing to her sisters in community, knowing herself content and secure.  May she blossom.  May she be at peace.


And you, reading?  May God answer the need your heart knows.  May you find the time and space for what you came here to be and do.  May you not miss the beauty of the journey.  May life bring you wholeness and laughter and may you be loved on this Earth.  xxx



17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing Penny. So beautiful.

I lead a small urban monastic community in a factory town in Canada. Every year I reread your books and God uses your work to bring strength to my heart, thank you for being a faithful witness,

Pen Wilcock said...

Thanks for making yourself known, friend. Your blog looks good - added it to my collection on here x

Pen Wilcock said...

Under "Monastics" x

rebecca said...

I know little to nothing about blacking a stove or the feel of raw,unworked fleece on my hands, but...

Were you looking over my should as I journaled my heart out just a minute ago? The last paragraph was for me. I just KNOW it.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Good. xx

Anonymous said...

Dear Pen,

I've been following your blog with interest. Re: Komorebi - I'm so thrilled you have this place and am reminded of the Belton House moondial:

Lex et Umbra vicissim, sed semper Amor (Light and Shadow by turns, but always Love)

May Komorebi bring you love and soul healing. I love this saying - both light and dark times are redeemable by love. I'm so grateful dark times can be redeemed.

Re: the discussions re facts and opinions?

Today I was reading a book by Sister Wendy Beckett a friend has just sent me. She talks about art -beauty and all perceptions of works of art being opinions. Then she says "Writing about prayer is very different. These are not just my personal opinions, these are my convictions about what is deepest in out lives, most integral to being human: our relationship to God".

It made me wonder whether there are opinions, facts and convictions - what are your thought??

Blessings to you,

Catherine

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Catherine - good to hear from you. I think what Sr Wendy Beckett says about conviction is the same as what I said about beliefs and Don D said about truth in the previous blog post (Facts, Opinions and Beliefs).
I like the Latin quotation :0) x

GerriHultgren said...

Hello Pen,
a few years ago I was the grateful recipient of some of your prayer caps and I have followed your blog ever since :)...your spiritual search and mine are very similar,we both seek the plain,the small,unobtrusive life while serving in God's way. My Komorebi's name is Earthsong,a space for silence,prayer and creating ( I am a knitter and spinner).I thank you for sharing your path,it has meant a lot to me in my own search for a place to belong.God bless and I will be around,asking silly question. Gerri Hultgren

GerriHultgren said...

Hello Pen,
a few years ago I was the grateful recipient of some of your prayer caps and I have followed your blog ever since :)...your spiritual search and mine are very similar,we both seek the plain,the small,unobtrusive life while serving in God's way. My Komorebi's name is Earthsong,a space for silence,prayer and creating ( I am a knitter and spinner).I thank you for sharing your path,it has meant a lot to me in my own search for a place to belong.God bless and I will be around,asking silly question. Gerri Hultgren

Sandra Ann said...

Happy Days! May you enjoy your sewing time and many thanks for those prayer filled words at the end full of peace and encouragement. Xx

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Geri, hi San - waving! Geri, I love "Earthsong"; beautiful name!
xxx

Bean said...

Sounds delightfully soul satisfying!

Blessings to you,

Bean

Julie B. said...

Imagining your family time together made me sigh and enjoy it vicariously here...sounds beautiful. I don't have a Komorebi (yet) but I love homes that have names. I love the name you gave our home and it still fits perfectly, no matter what our circumstances: Gilead. God bless you today Ember! xo

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi dear friends - love to you! xxx

Anonymous said...

Nice :-D

Pilgrim said...

Today my Orthodox friend remembers St. John the Hut Dweller. :-)

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Debs x

Hi Pilgrim - Yay! for St John the Hut-Dweller! :0D