Margery's visions of motes/angels and God's answer is deeply comforting. A dear friend of mine, Sr. Clare, a professed nun for 70 years, used to always say "He is with you on the journey, always with you" and we did Lenten study together, just the two of us. God's answer to Margery reminds me so clearly of Sr. Clare because she trusted God with her life, entirely and utterly, and we can too, with our anxieties and fretting. He keeps us and the angels surround us. On a funny note, my husband cooked bacon recently and it left such a smell that Iris insisted he use the BBQ outside next time. It was too much. We are going to the UK including Oxford, in May, so I might need to ask for any of those recommendations from you.
Have a bite to eat at the Benugo cafe upstairs at St Pancras station. There are two benugos - the downstairs is busy, but head upstairs to the John Betjeman statue and it’s just near there. It resembles an old fashioned railway refreshment room (such as in Brief Encounter). A little anchor hold in the midst of London.
Gorgeous, Grace! Children really are so skilled at making us stop and wonder at the divine. Of course, that makes me think of Julian and your work on her! Many thanks for sharing these thoughts and words of comfort— both old and new, as always.
So exciting that you are researching anchorholds! Julian of Norwich's re-created cell is wonderful, and if you time your visit you can attend a Julian Meeting/contemplative prayer service in the cell. The guesthouse next door is calm and comfortable, and walking distance to the cathedral (through the medieval quarter) to see the Despenser Retable.
Oh I love the dust motes as angels. How enchanting and comforting. Also love the story of the bacon smoke. It's so wonderful how often children call us back to wonder and delight if only we let them point the way.
Also I listened to your discussion of Burnt Norton and very much appreciated it. I have been reading the Quartets since I was an undergraduate in the 90s but I hadn't paid much attention to the Emily Hale letters when they came out-- I think the global pandemic rather distracted me. It was interesting to see how they've informed and shifted our understanding of the biographical aspect of the poem. Especially poignant to think of the voices of the children in the garden as echoes of the children Eliot never had. I'm looking forward to the rest of the Quartets podcasts.
So glad you enjoyed the Burnt Norton series! I hadn’t paid much attention to the Emily Hale letters either, so I learned so much from conversation with Paul!
This is so delightful - thank you! Also, I have so many recommendations for Oxford and London: do you know yet where you’re staying? That makes a big difference! 😊
Also, AirBnb is your friend for finding places to stay in towns like Canterbury and Norfolk and Oxford - there are lots of cozy rooms and flats in the oldest parts of the towns that are way better than staying at a generic hotel
So many!! 😝 Ok, the best way to be in Oxford is to be staying “in college” - if you know someone at one of the colleges there, they should be able to book you a room, which is not super expensive. (There’s a three-day limit, but what’s great about staying in a college is that you get to actually see the inside of places that you usually can’t enter.) Also!! Go to all the evensongs you can, esp at Exeter and Christ Church and Magdalen College. The services are beautiful, the chapels are beautiful, and you feel like you’re actually participating in something instead of just visiting. I assume you’re going to be getting a library card so you can study at the Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian library, which are so amazing. Avoid High Street as much as you can - stick to the lanes and the food and coffee is much better. Vaults and Gardens is delicious, and the Missing Bean is good! Gah - so much to say!! 🤣 This is a start, anyway. Ask more questions, and I can be more specific! 😊
I will definitely be going to Evensong. I am Catholic but find these services so beautiful and affirming. I first attended one at the cathedral in Inverness and it was me and the Reverend and her assistant. It was a beautiful experience.
Margery's visions of motes/angels and God's answer is deeply comforting. A dear friend of mine, Sr. Clare, a professed nun for 70 years, used to always say "He is with you on the journey, always with you" and we did Lenten study together, just the two of us. God's answer to Margery reminds me so clearly of Sr. Clare because she trusted God with her life, entirely and utterly, and we can too, with our anxieties and fretting. He keeps us and the angels surround us. On a funny note, my husband cooked bacon recently and it left such a smell that Iris insisted he use the BBQ outside next time. It was too much. We are going to the UK including Oxford, in May, so I might need to ask for any of those recommendations from you.
Sr. Clare sounds wonderful. And bacon certainly does linger 😂
I hope people have some good recommendations for both of us!! Very exciting.
A London tip.
Have a bite to eat at the Benugo cafe upstairs at St Pancras station. There are two benugos - the downstairs is busy, but head upstairs to the John Betjeman statue and it’s just near there. It resembles an old fashioned railway refreshment room (such as in Brief Encounter). A little anchor hold in the midst of London.
This sounds delightful! Thank you
Keep bringing the Margery Kempe! She doesn't get enough presence in contemporary discourse. Thank you for this wonderful and timely reflection Grace.
Margery is radically under appreciated!
I really love Margery, and Martin Thornton's thoughts in his "Margery Kempe: an example in the English pastoral tradition"
Gorgeous, Grace! Children really are so skilled at making us stop and wonder at the divine. Of course, that makes me think of Julian and your work on her! Many thanks for sharing these thoughts and words of comfort— both old and new, as always.
Thank you friend ❤️
So exciting that you are researching anchorholds! Julian of Norwich's re-created cell is wonderful, and if you time your visit you can attend a Julian Meeting/contemplative prayer service in the cell. The guesthouse next door is calm and comfortable, and walking distance to the cathedral (through the medieval quarter) to see the Despenser Retable.
We are staying in the guesthouse :) and the Despenser Retable is most definitely on my list!!
Oh I love the dust motes as angels. How enchanting and comforting. Also love the story of the bacon smoke. It's so wonderful how often children call us back to wonder and delight if only we let them point the way.
Also I listened to your discussion of Burnt Norton and very much appreciated it. I have been reading the Quartets since I was an undergraduate in the 90s but I hadn't paid much attention to the Emily Hale letters when they came out-- I think the global pandemic rather distracted me. It was interesting to see how they've informed and shifted our understanding of the biographical aspect of the poem. Especially poignant to think of the voices of the children in the garden as echoes of the children Eliot never had. I'm looking forward to the rest of the Quartets podcasts.
Kids are the best at that.
So glad you enjoyed the Burnt Norton series! I hadn’t paid much attention to the Emily Hale letters either, so I learned so much from conversation with Paul!
This is so delightful - thank you! Also, I have so many recommendations for Oxford and London: do you know yet where you’re staying? That makes a big difference! 😊
I haven't booked places to stay yet!! Thoughts?
Also, AirBnb is your friend for finding places to stay in towns like Canterbury and Norfolk and Oxford - there are lots of cozy rooms and flats in the oldest parts of the towns that are way better than staying at a generic hotel
Wonderful tip but that was the way I was heading too.
So many!! 😝 Ok, the best way to be in Oxford is to be staying “in college” - if you know someone at one of the colleges there, they should be able to book you a room, which is not super expensive. (There’s a three-day limit, but what’s great about staying in a college is that you get to actually see the inside of places that you usually can’t enter.) Also!! Go to all the evensongs you can, esp at Exeter and Christ Church and Magdalen College. The services are beautiful, the chapels are beautiful, and you feel like you’re actually participating in something instead of just visiting. I assume you’re going to be getting a library card so you can study at the Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian library, which are so amazing. Avoid High Street as much as you can - stick to the lanes and the food and coffee is much better. Vaults and Gardens is delicious, and the Missing Bean is good! Gah - so much to say!! 🤣 This is a start, anyway. Ask more questions, and I can be more specific! 😊
I will definitely be going to Evensong. I am Catholic but find these services so beautiful and affirming. I first attended one at the cathedral in Inverness and it was me and the Reverend and her assistant. It was a beautiful experience.
The Four Quartets conversations have been wonderful so far and really helpful for my understanding of Elliot's work. Thank you Grace!