Dosn’t life get so busy these days? And there is so much competition for our time, thought and energy. Being only 34 years old it is hard possibly impossible to remember a time when life wasn’t so hectic for everyone.

But actually it is possible as the speed of life has ramped up a lot over the last 10 years with smart phones and easy access to everything taking over our lives. We live very much in the age of distraction and almost too much opportunity!

I don’t think I’m alone in craving to escape and retreat from the busy. I may be naturally quite driven and determined but my soul aches for more quiet, more refreshing more times of simplicity.

And so as I’ve journeyed through marriage and fatherhood I have felt the increasing desire to find places to find this solitude and quiet that appeals to me. I’ve found real beauty in retreating to the beach, I have a favourite place at home out of the city I live in, out on the coastline and whenever possible I love to escape to Staunton Beach back home in Devon.

Since I was a boy I’ve adored this place. Then as a 19-21 year old navigating depression yet with a new found love for surfing I had great times of discovery. The ocean taught me much about myself and the life we are called to live here. Whenever I see the sea and especially when I’m a part of it, I can not help but feel at one with my maker, just bopping up and down on my board and drifting with the waves, for me a child of North Devon I can’t help but feel recentered, to find peace, to be in awe of the creators majesty, and to find such passion for all that he has given to me.

I have a desire to do a 3 day walk very soon, something that my soul is aching to do, I know that on the journey of one foot in front of the other in front of the other in front of the other and the silence and tuning my ear in to the nature around me I will find the answers to the questions my spirit has that I don’t even realise I currently have, I just know there is a longing a nagging for more. So the moment I get the time I’m going.

What about you? what is your soul longing for? Do you give it the time and space to speak? Do you have that space to listen? What is it that revives you and brings you back to life? It will be different for all of us. But we should know where are sacred spaces are. And we should escape to return with the power and grace to live well. I dare you, take some time to return well!

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