A Good Intention
An overnight flight from Nashville to London, a joyful reunion at Heathrow, and a tour of Stonehenge were all behind me when I remembered what I had forgotten. I had not neglected to pack a critical item, nor had I failed to leave detailed instructions for folks who were covering various bases for me at home. I had forgotten to set an intention for this trip.
When I mentioned my plans for this adventure to my spiritual director during a session several months ago, she encouraged me to set an intention for my travels. I told her I would but then did not give it another thought until I opened my journal and prepared to record my reflections from my first day in England.
The intention came to me in a flash: Be fully present. I wanted to live in the moment, to focus my energy and attention on the people and places directly in front of me. I silently vowed to break my unhealthy habit of picking up my phone to check a news app or social media whenever there was a lull in activity. Doom-scrolling had certainly not improved my emotional well-being. I also gave myself permission to release concerns about upcoming events on my calendar. Those would still be waiting for me when I landed at BNA the following week.
Stonehenge, conveniently located right beside the A303
Keeping this intention proved to be far easier than I imagined. When I extracted my iPhone from my pocket for navigational and photographic purposes, I was not tempted to click on other apps. I was free from the tyranny of the 24-hour news cycle, liberated from the algorithms.
Throughout the weeklong adventure on British soil, I felt relaxed. All of my senses were engaged. Conversations went deeper because I was a better listener. I savored meals. I paid attention to my surroundings. Day by day, my body, mind, and spirit were refreshed.
Stained Glass window featuring three Marys in the Cathedral of the Moor
(St. Pancras Church in Widecombe-in-the-Moor)
During our visit to Dartmoor National Park in Devon, we explored the Cathedral of the Moor, a 14th century church whose 120-foot tower dominates the pastoral landscape. I took many photographs of stained glass windows on this trip, but this one in the Cathedral of the Moor featuring three Marys was my absolute favorite. Since stained glass windows predominately feature men, I was delighted to discover these images of Mary Magdalene, Mary Virgin Mother, and Mary of Bethany. The verse of Scripture that stretches across the three colorful panels comes from Luke’s Gospel: “Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).
My intention for this journey aligned with Jesus’ words. On this trip, I had intentionally chosen the good part - the one thing that I needed most at that time, in that place.
a stone from Slapton Sands on the English Channel
On the morning we visited Slapton Sands, a 3-mile long shingle beach on the English Channel, I chose a rock to bring home. I have a habit of picking up rocks and shells on trips, always believing I will be able to recall where I found the natural souvenir. This has proved to be a fantasy; the small compartment in my car in front of the gear shift currently holds four rocks, a scallop shell, and a sand dollar - all of unknown provenance.
This rock will be different. The crossed white stripes remind me of the intersection of friendships at the heart of this adventure. Tina, my traveling companion, has been my beloved friend since both of us were expecting our sons 36 years ago. Linda, our host and guide for the first half of our trip, became a soul friend four years ago when we were assigned to the same cohort during our spiritual direction training at the Haden Institute. As a result of this trip, a new friendship has been born, and all three of our lives have been enriched.
The intention I set on British soil continues to bear fruit at home. I am blessedly no longer tethered to technology that distracts me from paying attention to the people and places in front of me. A destructive cycle has been disrupted.
That rock from Slapton Sands now rests on my bedside table, a quotidian reminder of our adventures, a prompt to be fully present each day. Like the sarsen stones at Stonehenge, the Slapton Sands stone has spiritual significance. I have returned from a liminal space grounded and grateful.
Is it time for you to set an intention?
