Julian of Norwich and MND

This article was written following four friends who don’t know each other giving me four different books about ‘Julian of Norwich’, reading them stimulated me to reflect on being alone.

How much time today will you spend alone?

Some choose to be alone whist others have no choice. Whilst we may have no choice about the time we are physically alone, we always have a choice of what to do when alone. 

Meditation, contemplation and prayer when alone can provide emotional comfort, companionship and quite possibly inspiration - and has done through the ages:

Julian of Norwich (1342 - c1416) chose to live in a single room attached to a church with only a small opening through which everything had to pass. Her choice was to be physically alone in what was a sealed up cell for the last 30 or so years of her life, she chose to remove distractions so she could pray, be inspired and contemplate. During this time her cell became a place of pilgrimage with many coming to the small opening to her cell to hear her profound thoughts, insights and Christian wisdom. Before retreating to her cell she survived the Black Death, which killed perhaps more than half the population of Norwich. She is known to us almost only through being possibly the first woman to have written a book in English which still survives: The Revelations of Divine Love. 

Living with a life limiting disease, disability or terminal illness often means enforced hours alone, often confined to a small space. Television, social media, reading and the telephone can distract, entertain and alleviate being alone. But perhaps we are missing something in life if we use distractions to mask being alone? Perhaps in filling our time alone with distractions we are missing out on the rewards of solitude, time spent in quiet meditation, contemplation or prayer.

There is such a difference between being distracted whilst alone and actively seeking and enjoying solitude.

When you are next alone, what will you do? 

Further information about Julian of Norwich can be found https://julianofnorwich.org/pages/who-is-julian-of-norwich

Allen Creedy 

Newcastle 

July 2024