Novelist, Sue Monk Kidd tells of a time her six year old daughter wrapped up a special Christmas present.  When Sue opened it, she discovered a slightly familiar-looking pair of silver earrings.  When the daughter was asked where she found such a lovely gift, she replied, "from the cedar chest". Indeed they were an old pair that Sue had retired to the cedar chest at least 10 years previously.  Sue writes, "thanks to a six-year-old, I discovered the clean, simple wisdom of waking up to what I already have".

Ah yes, waking up to what we already have.  There is beauty all around us.  Do we see it?  The love of family and friends is close by.  Do we feel it?  A bird is singing, a cat purring.  Do we hear it?

The grounds of Rolling Ridge are splendid in the springtime; trees budding, daffodils waving their yellow glory to greet us.  This year I was surprised to see two baby fox kits romping and prancing near the wetlands.  Now instead of thinking of all I have to do at the office when I walk to work, I am searching the fields for signs of movement, awake and watching for their playful antics.  They are cute but they are also definitely wild fox, as a squirrel unfortunately found out.  My walking is more alert and I wonder what else I have been missing..

I think a retreat and conference center is a good place to breath deep, look around and wake up to the simple wisdom of what one already has.  Here is a space and time to notice and rejoice at all the blessings and wonder that are abundant and surprising around us.

I look forward to greeting you and welcoming you to this waking up place.

Larry  

Contact me at RevLPeacock@rollingridge.org

Looking for prayer or meditation ideas, check out our Prayer page.  

For books and other resources by Larry Peacock and friends of Rolling Ridge go to our Resources page.  

Biography of Rev. Larry J. Peacock

Executive Director, Larry Peacock, is an ordained United Methodist Pastor, a spiritual director, retreat leader and author.  He has served churches in England, Michigan and California before coming to Rolling Ridge.  After completing The Upper Room's Two Year Academy for Spiritual Formation, he became the retreat leader for the Upper Room Academy in California, and received additional training as a spiritual director.  He now works with Upper Room as a member of the Academy Advisory Board and as a faculty speaker across the country.  He is the author of Openings: A Daybook of Saints, Psalms and Prayer;  Heart and Soul: Spiritual Formation in the Local Church;  The Getting Started Guide to Companions in Christ;  Water Words: Inclusive, Fresh Liturgy for Worship; and articles in Weavings, Alive Now, and Alternatives.  He was a contributing writer to the Spiritual Formation Bible and Sourcebook of Worship Resources, vol.  1,2,and 3.  He is married to author and pastor, Anne Broyles and is the father of two wonderful children and two foreign exchange daughters.

Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, 

660 Great Pond Road, North Andover, MA  01845

email:  thestaff@rollingridge.org                           Tel:  978-682-8815