Come the New Year, we’re hoping to begin a regular blog with pieces contributed by folk with an RHC connection. Here’s a beginning…

I was reminded today of an experience I had a year ago. We were on holiday on the south coast. The tide was going out on the beach where we were walking.

All of a sudden the sea appeared to stop moving all together, the waves became completely minimal, hardly any movement at all, so still. I thought this was very strange and couldn't remember ever seeing this before. It was like the sea had paused.....

Today reading my devotional it described this phenomenon, that moment when the sea is between the ebb and flow; that moment when it pauses. There is a time of poise when it is neither ebbing or flowing.

These words "pause" and "poised" made me think of where we are right now.

In this moment of pause, between the ebb and flow there is time for peaceful reflection, but just as the sea doesn't stay paused for ever, nor will we.

The sea is "poised" and ready for the next tide.

As we approach advent are we poised and hopeful of what God can do?

As we approach a new year are we poised and expectant of what God will do?

And as we face a different future to what we may have thought or planned, are we poised and ready for what God has planned?

Remember this is just a pause!

This piece also appears on the Pathways to God website of the Jesuits in the UK, and you can see it here.