A gentle look at the thoughtful side of life
Make yourself a cup of tea and treat yourself to a biscuit and a few quiet moments. . . .
Sarah Muffett takes time to reflect 
The days are beginning to lengthen and the garden beckons. Snowdrops light up the dark earth and encourage us to look more closely for signs that spring has begun. We're weary of winter by the time we reach February, and seize gratefully on every intimation that, despite the frost-hard ground, new life and greenness are unfolding below, waiting to make an entrance in the first warming rays of spring sunshine. Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote of nature's infinite capacity for renewal: “There lives the dearest freshness deep down things”, and it's good to be reminded of that occasionally.
For gardeners, the warming soil signals a return to work in earnest, as we prepare the ground and plan for this year's planting. But everyone can benefit from tending a garden of another kind: the garden of our soul. As we approach the season of lent, it's a good time to consider how we will grow and flourish in the year to come. Is there some work to be done perhaps? Most of us have a few pernicious weeds lurking somewhere in the border! Or perhaps we need some careful pruning to keep us healthy and in good shape.
Many people find it a helpful exercise to give something up for lent, but we need to be clear about what we're actually trying to achieve. It may be that we're in greater need of feeding and mulching! In which case we might ponder whether we take something up instead – soul food! Stir up all that you believe in your heart to be good and life-giving, and not only will you live the day well, you'll be sowing the seeds which will blossom most delightfully in the future. With the added bonus that, like all self-sown seeds, they appear in the most unexpected places!
Happy gardening,
Sarah
The Reverend Sarah Muffett is Associate Priest at St Nicholas’ Church, Child Okeford and the Okeford Benefice, Dorset
January 2012
Happy New Year!
How are we feeling then? 
A bit liverish perhaps? Some over-enthusiastic partying? Visiting relation fatigue? Looming overdraft? New Year resolutions already beginning to look a bit over-ambitious? Feeling fat? Pine needles turning up in unexpected places? Never fear Dear Reader, all will be well - you're simply suffering from a bad case of New Year Anxiety! This is a common complaint at this time of year, largely induced and easily exacerbated by too much exposure to television commercials, magazines, and improving literature. There is, I'm happy to say, a cheap, effective, and enjoyable remedy: The Attitude Transplant!
Begin the procedure by ignoring every suggestion or advertisement which includes the word 'lifestyle', a meaningless and annoying term at the best of times, and particularly so just now when any 'lifestyle' you might observe as you look around you is likely to be summed up by the word 'messy'. Banish any expectations or resolutions which have no basis in reality along with the words 'should' and 'ought'. Now we're talking – feeling better yet? Not completely it seems, so we'll carry on . . .
Take stock of where you are now and consider: OK so it's January and the weather's foul but things aren't actually so very bad are they? (This part of the exercise is sometimes also referred to as 'counting your blessings', but it's a bit early for us to be moving on to the Advanced Level - remember it's very important to Begin Where You Are). We should be ready by now though for the practical element of the treatment (making due allowance for physical frailty of any kind – being gentle with yourself is of the essence if you are to complete the programme successfully).
If at all possible go for a walk. Wrap up well. Get muddy and slightly breathless (this will take at least half an hour), having promised yourself something hot/sweet/alcoholic (or any combination thereof) when you get home. On arrival change into something
shapeless and comfortable, these two qualities being inseparable in my view. Organise some tasty treats of your choice, settle down in a comfy chair with your favourite book. Nothing too serious mind, something light and preferably not too taxing.
You should be getting the hang of this by now, but don't be downhearted if you experience setbacks on the road to recovery, this is quite normal and usually caused by something as simple as a window envelope landing on the mat. There is still every hope of a complete cure, and in the meantime you can keep the anxiety at bay by taking Mark Twain's advice at least twice a day. Repeat as necessary!
Dance like no-one is watching
Sing like no-one is listening
Love like you've never been hurt
And live like it's heaven on earth.
With Warmest Wishes and Every Blessing for 2012,
Sarah
The Reverend Sarah Muffett is Associate Priest at St Nicholas’ Church, Child Okeford and the Okeford Benefice, Dorset
December 2011
A gentle look at the thoughtful side of life . . . .
Sarah Muffett takes time to reflect
The countdown has begun! There's no escaping the message emanating from the supermarket shelves laden with dried fruit, mincemeat, sweeties, biscuits, prettily packaged toiletries, wrapping paper, ribbon and cards. The pressure's on and, depending on our mood, we veer between the wide-eyed anticipation of our inner seven-year-old, and the sinking heart of the one who'll be doing the lion's share of the shopping, cooking, card-writing and present-wrapping!
Ah, the magic of Christmas!
But even as you add yet another person to your Christmas card list (usually in response to the first card you receive, which is always from someone not on your list!), it's worth remembering for a moment exactly what it is that we're preparing for – and why. As 'Stir-up Sunday' heralds Advent, it isn't only the pudding which merits our best efforts; we're also stirring up our hearts so that we're ready for the great 'Advent-ure' which awaits us in the season to come.
We know in our hearts that, ultimately, it won't be the shiny new decorations, or the perfection of the turkey which will make our Christmas memorable. It will be the things which we're able to share with those around us: the family traditions which span the 
generations, the hospitality and laughter enjoyed with our friends and neighbours, watching the little ones in their nativity plays, singing carols in a candle-lit church. This is where we're most likely to experience those unexpected moments of peace or joy which spring from God's loving presence with us and in us – for which no preparation is required!
With every Good Wish and Blessing for Advent,
Sarah
The Reverend Sarah Muffett is Associate Priest at St Nicholas’ Church, Child Okeford and the Okeford Benefice, Dorset
Previously on More Tea Vicar?
Autumn 2011
Sarah Muffett takes time to reflect
It’s autumn already, and with it comes a fresh sense of purpose - and maybe a regretful goodbye to the holiday season. In many ways it’s quite a relief to get back to the familiar routine but at the same time you start to feel guilty about taking any kind of break at all - sitting down with a cup of tea and coffee and actually relaxing, for example.
Instead, our busy lives seem to demand that we're in constant action, so much so that even while we re-fuel we feel we ought to be using the time profitably. Whether it's writing a list, or trying to arrange an appointment - or whatever (insert your own list here) there's a part of us that's already moving on, living in the next hour, in the next day or the week ahead – our only satisfaction being able to cross something off our never-ending 'To Do' list.
May I suggest an alternative? When you've finished reading this, sit still for five or ten minutes, and simply enjoy your cup of tea or coffee; enjoy your biscuit or your cake; enjoy sitting still and looking out of the window - at the view, or the birds, or something that pleases you. Be here, really here, in this moment, in this place, for just a little while and allow yourself to be at rest. The world will still keep turning; everything that needs doing will still get done, and you'll be properly refreshed by knowing how 'to just be' as well as 'to do'.
The Reverend Sarah Muffett is Associate Priest at St Nicholas’ Church, Child Okeford and the Okeford Benefice, Dorset