Reflection: 'This is the time to be slow'

John O'Donohue was an Irish poet-philosopher-priest, who may be best known for his book

'Anam Cara'. He was a leading light in the revival of Celtic Christian spirituality. If you haven't come
across his work, do yourself a favour, he's worth getting to know. O'Donohue died in 2008 aged 52.

He wrote the following poem, which feels apt for such a time as this:

St John's Cross, Isle of Iona

          This is the time to be slow,

          Lie low to the wall

          Until the bitter weather passes.

          Try, as best you can, not to let

          The wire brush of doubt

          Scrape from your heart

          All sense of yourself

          And your hesitant light.

          If you remain generous,

          Time will come good;

          And you will find your feet

          Again on fresh pastures of promise,

          Where the air will be kind

          And blushed with beginning.

from his book: 'To bless the space between us: a book of blessings'