Ebb and flow of life

St Cuthbert’s island by Lindisfarne,

a place of retreat, silence and stillness.

Sometimes connected, sometimes cut off.

The ebb and flow of the tide reflects the ebb and flow of life.

As the sun sets and darkness surrounds,

thoughts turn inwards and questions abound,

the night is long and dark,

the dark night of the soul.

Sometimes connected, sometimes cut off.

The ebb and flow of the tide reflects the ebb and flow of life.

As the sun rises, a new day dawns,

thoughts become clearer,

the light draws us nearer

to the God who is with us,

in the silence and stillness;

to the God who is with us,

every step of the way,

time to return to the demands of the day.

The ebb and the flow, engage and retreat,

sometimes connected, sometimes cut-off,

but the end is in victory and never defeat.

©JH, 2018