(Berkeley Square, London, England)
I’ve been sending out bits of my morning pages: Joy Comes in the Morning to my paid subscribers. This morning I am sharing one to free subscribers too, to give you a glimpse of some of the extra content. Enjoy.
I have found some sort of rhythm here in London. Wake at 6am. Read. Tea. Journal. Mass at 8am. Then I walk over to Pret in Berkeley Square for provisions for the day. The Jesuit Center provides tea, toast and cereal in the mornings for breakfast but lunch and dinner at on my own. I’ve a dinner date every evening. A friend who lives here and friend who is also in town and a few new friends, Twitter connections who I had never met. This has been an absolute joy as the rest of my day is spent in solitude.
This has been a good transition space. I know my accommodations at the next two locations will not be as ritzy. I have had a comfortable bed and frankly a gorgeous room and building to combat jet lag. Tomorrow I move to a monastery in the country. There will not be as many amenities and more quiet and solitude. Please pray for safe travel as some of the Underground and Railway lines are effected by strikes.
I travel out of one carry-on. A large backpacking pack. I have one pair of pjs, 4 shirts, 2 sweaters, 2 pairs of pants and 5 each of underwear and socks for the month. This morning I ran into a cleaning lady from the building and asked if there was any way I could wash a few items and told her my predicament. She guided me to a washer and dryer in the basement. I have a small laundry bag with a zipper so I can throw my clothes in with another load if need be. I was able to wash a shirt and some undies and socks. I didn’t want to push my luck so only washed what REALLY needed it. I have been handwashing daily items in the sink. I am so touched by her kindness to me. This is such a blessing for the day: the joy of a freshly laundered shirt.
I’ve been writing out these Undaunted Joy cards and handing them out, to the flight attendant, to friends I meet with, with our servers at the restaurant the other night and now to this sweet woman.
Each morning I awake with a refrain in my head. Yesterday it was a line from an old Andrae Crouch gospel song from the 70’s. Today it is a Psalm response from Lent “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your heart.” Holding to that today.