As Mike and others have said, I have found the book around the monastery profoundly moving as its seeks balance between being true to God, true to yourself and true to others. It is a painful read as you slow down, but it is really good for you. Click here for info It is vital that we find peace in these inner parts of ourselves. Gareth in a very wise moment called it, 'conversion of the inner you to Christ', and that for me hits the nail on the head. I really struggle often with liking myself, about being single - the list goes on - but real peace is not to get addicted to running around or consuming - but to face these things and see Christ in them as I struggle to be whole. We need inner as well as outer conversion.

Reflecting on it, the documentaries on the Monastery and the Convent are all about this, about finding an inner order, of inner conversion - to imagine Christ as caring and involved with our inner stuff - we seek to avoid, cry, deny, be bulshy and a host of other reactions than face painful facts. That is why the two communities are so powerful - in that they love people to enable them to delve into the painful and dangerous. As we watch on TV. I was profoundly moved un the last episode of the Convent which touched on all this stuff. I hope some day that Moot can reflect this love of God centring on everyone's lives - a real depth of being which can only be attractive to those who encounter it at the edges. How different would church be if it was all like this?? I am now an avid viewer. I go on retreat myself next week Thurs-Sat....