365 Days, Day 338

For me the appropriate metaphor for the inner spiritual centre is a garden, a place of potential peace and tranquillity. This garden is a place where the Spirit of God comes to make self-disclosure to share wisdom, to give affirmation or rebuke, to provide encouragement, and to give direction and guidance. When this garden is in proper order, it is a quiet place, and there is an absence of busyness, of defiling noise, of confusion. The inner garden is a delicate place, and if not properly maintained it will be quickly overrun by intrusive under-growth. God does not often walk in disordered gardens. And that is why inner gardens that are ignored are said to be empty (Gordon MacDonald)

I believe the root of all happiness on this earth to lie in the realization of a spiritual life with a consciousness of something wider than materialism; in the capacity to live in a world that makes you unselfish because you are not overanxious about your own comic fallibilities; that gives you tranquillity without complacency because you believe in something so much larger than yourself (Sir Hugh Walpole)

The cathedral in Evreux was possibly built in the 10^th century; it burned down in the 11^th century and was rebuilt in roman style between 1126 and 1140. Fifty years later it was again destroyed. Louis 11^th rebuilt it. The unfortunate cathedral was also damaged during World War II.

In the bishops home (palace) is a museum; downstairs is a Gallo-Roman archaeological dig, with remnants of the time encased in glass cases. A delightful exhibition.

Being away from the immediacy of housework needing to be done, gives me time and opportunity to be more tranquil. I have spent the afternoon by myself, wandering around; had a cappuccino at a café in Evreux, reading my book. I have found that in this medium town no-ones speaks English, it is rather arrogant of me to suppose that the inhabitants would be able to speak anything other than their home language. So I have had some interesting moments trying to communicate with them in ordering my coffee and in an attempt to get information at the tourist bureau.

I am putting my inner garden in order…