27/06/2026
Quiet Spaces was so special at St Anne's yesterday. Our reflection on St Thérèse of Lisieux brought some interesting conversation, and we were able to explore the wild garden at St Anne’s which was blooming with wildflowers. It was also Quiet Space’s third birthday – so naturally we had cake afterwards to celebrate!
Whilst Judy and I set this up three years ago, it has evolved into a shared collective effort, shaped and enriched by everyone involved. Thank you all for making Quiet Spaces such a warm, supportive and indeed very special community.
Whilst it is hard to single people out to thank, a few people need mentioning for their hard work in leading, writing, and organising refreshments – Rev Judy, Pastor Janet, Linda O, Grace, Jenny H, Jenny S and Di. And thanks to Linda O for playing her singing bowl to lead us into silence, and Grace and her team for all their work tending the wild garden at St Anne’s. I need to also mention Ruth J who has worked so hard knitting blankets to be donated to Ukraine through PUMA, and those from Quiet Spaces who knit squares to give to Ruth. And thanks to the churches which accommodate our meetings – St Anne’s, Glenholt, St Mary’s, Plympton and Roborough Methodist Church.
Reflection
St Thérèse of Lisieux – known as the ‘little flower’ – advocated a spiritual path focusing on doing ordinary actions with extraordinary love. She viewed herself as a "little flower" in God’s garden, humble and reliant on divine mercy, rather than a grand, notice-seeking rose. She stated, ‘If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.’ (St. Therese of Lisieux. The Story of a Soul: An Autobiography, Kindle p3)
God finds us where we are and loves us for who we are. The individual gifts he bestows on us perhaps are ‘tailor-made’ – just for us – no gift of greater or lesser value – just different. We see Paul speaking of the Body of Christ - different parts yet all equal. And the Bible is full of ordinary people.
Richard Rohr states: ‘I’ve noticed in the Gospels that even after two appearances of the Risen Christ, the apostles return to their old job of fishing (John 21:3). They don’t join the priesthood, try to get a job at the Temple, go on more retreats, take vows, leave their wives, or get special titles. Nor is there any mention of them baptising each other or wearing special clothing beyond that of a wayfarer or “workman” (Matthew 10:9–10). When the inner is utterly transformed, we don’t need symbolic outer validations, special hats, or flashy insignia.
(Adapted from Richard Rohr, Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi (Cincinnati, OH: Franciscan Media, 2014), p16–17)
Do we perhaps find ourselves striving for success – trying to stand out from others like St Therese’s roses? Hands up here…. that’s me! But I am learning we only need affirmation from God - he loves the violets as much as the roses.
Latest News
If you go to the website to read the reflections, they are now available in audio – so you can listen instead of reading if you prefer.
Coming soon – we plan to start an ‘Online Zoom Quiet Spaces’ in the evening.
www.Quiet-Spaces.co.uk
Our next meeting will be 10.30am on Friday 24 July Roborough Methodist Church. The theme will be 'Hope'
