Spaces

The former Master of Jesus College, Cambridge, Ian White used to say, “It’s not the buildings themselves, it’s the spaces in between them.” And, in a similar vein, there’s a quote that’s attributed to Pete Townsend, lead guitarist with The Who: “I get paid for the spaces in between the notes.” That’s not to say that the buildings of Jesus College are not beautiful (they are); or to deny the great guitar playing of Pete Townsend. But it suggests that there might also be something of value in the spaces. 

I have the great pleasure of launching my new website and, with it, my new business as a Consultant and Coach, and one of the things I hope to do is to offer spaces. There will be the safe and supportive space provided in coaching or mentoring where a person can explore key issues and be enabled to find ways of resolving those issues and moving forward; or where the person can simply be listened to. There will be the space given for a group to think reflectively or strategically. And there will be the liminal space afforded by a retreat or pilgrimage, where interesting conversations can take place or where there is simply a creative silence. 

This new space I find myself in was not entirely planned. I had moved to Kilkenny at the end of 2023 to be CEO of L’Arche Ireland. With my twenty-eight years spent in L’Arche in Canterbury, as well as my subsequent experience of being CEO of London-based ‘Irish Chaplaincy’ it seemed like a marriage made in heaven. It was not to be, and I left in August 2024. An immediate return to Canterbury was not possible, as our house had been let out until June 2025, so my wonderful wife said to me, “Let’s walk!” And that’s pretty much what we did: all 500 miles of the Camino Francés in Spain in October/November 2024; the ‘Lycian Way’ along the Mediterranean coast of Turkey in February/March 2025; and finally the ‘Way of Francis’ to Assisi and Rome in April/May. In between, in December/January, we spent a wonderful time in the States. We visited old friends and had some unforgettable experiences such as seeing alligators in Florida, and spending Christmas in a Trappist monastery in Kentucky. Even taking long distance buses and hanging out at American bus stations garnered some priceless moments; to add to the countless precious encounters on our various walks. 

One of those lovely people we met on the pilgrim path was Harriet from the UK, who listened attentively to my story and asked if I’d ever thought of training as a coach. I hadn’t up until that point. Then Lucia, who’s originally from Ecuador and who we met at the Trappist monastery in Kentucky (and with whom we sneaked out one day to go to a bourbon tasting in the nearby town- but that’s another story…) also suggested that I become a coach. I knew then that it was time to act and that another new door could be about to open. 

Shortly before leaving Ireland, I met up with an old friend, Maria who, as ever, gave me inspiration and ideas. She has put her decades of L’Arche, and other, experience to good use by working with church and other groups in Ireland. I dared to dream that I could do something similar in the UK. Significantly, I read a post from Maria on New Year’s Day, 2025. It was something she’d written in the Covid year of 2020 and had forgotten about and then found whilst searching for something else! The piece is entitled ‘The time is now,’ and she adds that it was ‘written in the wilderness in November 2020.’ It begins:

‘Every dream has to start one day…Don’t let your biggest regret, when you look back on your life, be that you wasted time waiting to be ready— to be good enough, old enough, wise enough— when you’re already so very much enough.’

So, the time is now for me to launch into the deep with this new website and this new venture. As with any new journey there is a bit of trepidation and doubt but there’s also excitement. I’m looking forward to hearing from people about how I might be able to help them or their organisation. And I’m looking forward to opening up spaces together and to discovering what treasure lies therein.