by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | Nov 14, 2025 | Newsletter
As we came together for our 2025 AGM my thoughts had been with the importance of balance for our board members and the direction of our charity. Our lives get caught up with action so easily, and I feel that it is important for us to consider this as a group, so I have some shared reflections on what is deep inner contemplation. Both so necessary if we are to achieve our intentions.
Miriam – Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann’s reflection on Dadirri describes it as ‘inner, deep listening and quiet, still awareness. Dadirri recognises the deep spring that is inside us. We call on it and it calls to us.’
Thomas Merton’s reflection on Contemplation describes it as ‘listening in silence, and expectancy – it takes silence to grasp higher revelations’.
AI describes it as ‘finding balance between action and contemplation that involves creating a cyclical rhythm where each enhances the other, preventing either from dominating. This balance is achieved by intentionally integrating moments of self-reflection, rest, and internal work (contemplation) with outer engagement and service (action), leading to a centred life rooted in deeper understanding and purposeful engagement with the world. It is a centreing pivot point where you can maintain your internal equilibrium while holding the world’s suffering’.
Franciscan Richard Rohr states – When we named the Centre for Action and Contemplation, I hoped our rather long name would itself keep us honest and force us toward balance and ongoing integration. However, over the years, I have witnessed how many of us attach to contemplation or to action for the wrong reasons. Introverts may use contemplation to affirm quiet time; those with the luxury of free time sometimes use it for “navel-gazing.” On the other hand, some activists see our call to action as an affirmation of their particular agenda and not much else. Neither is the delicate art and balance that we hope to affirm’.
Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust from its formal beginning in 1987 was named ‘a Centre of Hope’ and this has sought to express our purpose as ‘living and teaching by example’ through a decisive engagement in our social order. Through action based upon love for humanity and our natural world, it has been balanced and based upon deep inner listening, and reflection on our actions if they were for the higher good. Much has been achieved due to this balance.
Action or contemplation alone will not resolve the issues that we face in our world. Balance is essential if we are to bring change and hope for the future. This is a time of planetary challenge and disruption affecting us all – so balance is greatly needed.
Love is paramount and it is the powerhouse for all that we seek to offer in transforming and offering hope into the future. It is the glue that binds it all together. We seek to act in solidarity and universal responsibility on this journey, based upon either dadirri or contemplation – whatever one names it – in order to find balance.
by admin | Nov 14, 2025 | Newsletter
In her words of Welcome to the Spring 2025 Newsletter, Laurel wrote: … ‘I feel to share something with our readers that touches on the ENERGY of HOPE. Elm Grove Sanctuary was founded as a Centre of Hope. Hope – not a nebulous term but rather a most affirming and proven necessity for the future of each one of us and our precious planet’. This got me reflecting on hope for myself.
Like Laurel, I think of hope as an actual experience we can have within personal relationships. It is not just an idea or an expectation. It is an energy within relationship. Those of us fortunate enough to have had good enough parents, or firm friends, or people we looked up to who affirmed us, will know the experience of hope. It can sustain us even in moments when despair comes knocking. We can internalise relationships that have given us hope and feed on them within ourselves.
I think hope can also be cultivated by our own intention and initiative. I think this is what effective spirituality is all about. I think within our culture that intention has now become very important. Hope is generated in a living, personal world, not an impersonal physical or scientific world; and that is not deprecating science in any way. It is just a different way of thinking. We human beings have just about completely surrounded ourselves with a mechanistic, electronic world that is demanding all our attention; while the living world in which we were created is under critical threat and serious neglect. The challenge is: how can we put life and spirit back into nature and relate to it personally, and not only as something objective over and against us that we manipulate according to our own will. How can we act again within a living world of personal encounter? Martin Buber famously championed our relating to each other as ‘l and You’, rather than ‘I and He, She or It’. How can we draw more of the world we interact with into the ‘You’, without denying the ‘He, She or It’. Can we begin to think of that Mountain as a Person, or that extraordinary Tree that is so unique and particular. Can we dare to think of it as a ‘You’. If we do this from the heart, let yourself be aware of the hope it can help you experience. You will really see and hear Tree and want to name it.
For myself in my own spiritual explorations contemplating and meditating are not enough if they don’t include a sense of personal relationship that I in some sense act upon, whether it is engaging a representation within my own mind or an actual presence in the living world around me that I address in some way. Many may not follow me in that. I am very attracted to what I understand of the practice of dadirri. As I understand it, there is a different ancient background to the practice that has relationship built into it; deep listening to country. It is hard to feel down if you are looking up; that’s why the gods live in mountains. The ancient associations that hang around contemplation and meditating on the other hand are about withdrawing into ‘nothingness’ or the world of theoria, contemplating mathematical logic or Platonic forms rather than relating to the living world around us. Make of that what you will.
Electronic mechanical bots, on the other hand, are poised to take over the world of therapy and counselling. They are being sought out by lonely people. That is how cut off many now feel in our cultural world; they seek relationship with something they know is not really living, is not really real, while the natural world they barely see cries out with life that is no longer personally felt. How might Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust engage this extraordinary turning point we are all facing? We need more than hope as expectation; we need the Energy of Hope that comes from within living relationships.
by Laurel Lloyd-Jones | Nov 14, 2025 | Newsletter
The following extract from Chapter 13 (page 223) of our book ‘The Elm Grove Story’ – a mystical journey perhaps defines the challenge that our world now needs urgently to address. The need for a Universal Spirituality that moves beyond the divisions created by various faiths and creeds.
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“The difference we were detecting in some people’s attitudes was that their rigidity of belief closely aligned with the dogmatism often found in religious structures despite many of them having formally rejected religion. In others we saw the emergence of an evolving spiritual connection coming through their heart’s intuitive search rather than through a reasoned logic based upon religious teaching. They were finding this within their personal spiritual aspect and it was focused upon their desire to create a world that was in harmony on every level.
This moved them beyond the ego and self-consciousness to their essential spiritual essence opening within them the Cosmic Christ. Jesus and many religious leaders of other religions, such as the Buddha, embodied and exampled the Cosmic Christ.
Father Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who founded the Centre for Action and Contemplation in 1987 in Albuquerque, New Mexico provides greater understanding of the term Cosmic Christ in his statement:
‘Much of Christianity has made Jesus Christ into a denominational saviour figure while others have looked upon his saving grace as limited to a few who meet strict qualifications. But what about creation as a whole? How far back and forward in time does the Christ figure extend, and who exactly is Christ?
Christian scripture, in fact, gives us Jesus’ place in that history counted in billions of years if you look for it – in the prologue to John’s Gospel, for example, or in the Pauline hymns of the letters to the Colossians and Ephesians, or in the opening of John’s first letter. All speak of Christ existing from all eternity. We just don’t see those references. They’ve never been unpacked for the majority of Christians, and we don’t have theology to know how to see it.
Christ is not Jesus’ last name. The book of Acts says God has raised up Jesus and anointed him as the Christ. Our new awareness of the cosmos’ vastness and unimaginably ancient history is forcing us to rehear those scripture texts. It’s exciting good news. The Jesus we now have, the Jesus we participate in, are graced by, are redeemed by, is the risen Christ, the eternal Christ. The word ‘Christ’ means ‘the anointed one,’ and that anointment by God includes us and all of creation.’
Reprinted by permission of NCR Publishing Company.
It seemed that God was calling us to live from a Cosmic Christ consciousness and identity based upon our common humanity while respecting the many different expressions of faith and our care for the environment. My vision back in Sydney in 1982 had expressed this very clearly. Our hope was that Elm Grove Sanctuary was enabling people to explore the more profound spiritual aspects of their lives and it was heartening to be receiving feedback from our guests confirming this.”
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Since the publication of our memoir in 2022 we have received some affirming feedback from people of many faith backgrounds and belief structures, or of none, who have enjoyed our story which we chose to share from a very personal and lived experience.
Some comments from a while back, and some more very recent ones, led me to think that I should share a few with you.
Angela Young shared this message -“I walked into the pastoral care team meeting at the hospital today, and my friend Judy came over to me, so full of enthusiasm, as she had recently finished reading yours and Ed’s book. I had given it to her at the beginning of September. She was very impressed by your life journey and loved the whole spiritual approach so much that she told her daughter who is a teacher of religious education in a Catholic school. Her daughter immediately ordered one of your books. Judy is asking me where she can get more copies of your book to pass around as she’d love to give them to people.”
Jonathon McKeown from Sydney thought it an ‘extraordinary’ read – ‘This is a truly amazing story of how God chose two unsuspecting people out of the blue, and of how they responded to that call in faith. From the very first pages the incredible way God revealed himself and his purpose for Edwin and Laurel compels the reader to keep turning page after page in eager expectation.
Even the most sceptical readers will be given grounds to doubt their disbelief. The whole story is told in a tone of deep humility and gratitude though, which for me sets it apart and makes it a truly inspiring and encouraging testimony about what it means to trust God one day, one step at a time. It has challenged me to trust that I will be given exactly what I need at every moment, in every circumstance I find myself, if only I am open to that grace that is only invisible to me because I am a finite creature that cannot grasp with my limited mind the infinite grace of God that is unfolded to us in time, or at least in a lifetime.
Laurel and Ed have honoured their God in this testimony of how that grace unfolded for them in their own lives which was a long journey of faith that became their life’s work. Definitely worth reading. It may even change your life!’
And these very recent excerpts from Carmelite Sister Mary Magdalen’s reflections after her second reading of ‘The Elm Grove Story’.
‘It’s been a long time since I first wrote to you, following Ian Wilson’s “introduction”. I am re-reading The Elm Grove Story currently, and find myself more full of gratitude and admiration than the first time round. Your life without the near-death experience, or without your doing anything about it, would have been very different, and would have meant so much loss for those who eventually came there for healing. You must be so grateful to the Lord for all He has done for and through you (both of you, and all involved). Edwin’s humility, and your common sense, comes out more strongly than when I first read it. I know you rejoice in what the Lord has done for you.
Do you know of St. Mariam of Jesus Crucified Bouardy, the Arab Carmelite? Hers is an amazing story – and at the beginning she had her throat slashed by an overzealous Moslem. She should really have died, and later medical evidence shows how true and horrendous that slash was – but “a nun in blue”, as Mariam says, cared for her in a cave. She does not call her Our Lady, but your Lady in the blue dress reminded me of her…
I have been struck more than the first time by the enormity of the “work” – work of God first of all, as He initiated it; and the work of yourself and Edwin too, helped down the years by many other hands, for varying lengths of time and effort.
You needed all the courage and faith – and continuing encouragement and sustaining by God – to begin, then to keep on persevering, in deep trust. The trust, of course, grew with every new proof of God’s faithfulness. But faith of this sort is like walking in a fog, seeing only the immediate steps to tread, but not the whole path to the end. I think God greatly values it when we trust Him in this way.
I mentioned my own going to PNG in darkness and hanging on (it was that!) and hoping things would work out. I clung to the line in psalm 50 (which at that time we recited on the way to the refectory for midday meal) “give me back the joy of Your help…” I had no joy in my life at that time, and I laughed in sympathy with you, the time you and Natasha had to struggle with heavy groceries up the driveway to the house in pelting rain, and you yelled into the wind, “Why did you bring us to this God-forsaken place?” It all reminds me, too, of the relationship He and St. Teresa had – so intimate and accepting of her weaknesses and struggles to follow His leading. Once He addressed her as “little sinner”, I’m sure with a teasing, tender look.
The work on your part was enormous, not only in establishing the Sanctuary and other buildings as time went on, but all the programmes and workshops you organised and gave. And the heart-breaks and troubles endured…you needed trust to keep on persevering. God supports us as we need. There is no inner message for most of us because we are not asked to do what you were asked to do. He gives His help as we need… Again, He is training us in trust. And as we grow in that, it’s so wonderful to know His fidelity.
I noted on page 452 what was said: This place will always be a holy place and from it will flow healing energy. And so it is, and will be, no matter who ‘owns’ the property. The Lord works through all instruments, willing and strong, as well as faltering and lukewarm – I know you know this too. And what He has begun He will uphold.
I also cried – well, had misty eyes – with you as you said your farewells. I know how hard it was for me to leave PNG after more than half my life-time there, and where I knew God had called me to go. I of course did not start a whole new venture, as you did, so it was much more difficult for both of you, having put so much sweat and blood (literally) into Elm Grove to step aside.
Another thought, which I’d had previously too but which recurred as I finished the book – Elm Grove was brought about directly by the Lord, in a way quite unique…
I took a very quick look this morning at the newsletter links you sent, and found it amazingly encouraging – you’re doing wonderful things with young people, but with others too (the people you brought out from Gaza). The Winter 2025 letter was the one I opened. When I have more time, I shall go through various letters to be encouraged more! Thank you so much.
With that I think I’ve exhausted my ‘thoughts’ for the present. I take you all to prayer with the Lord, Who is more accessible when we see all He is doing behind the scenes, and that is partly because of your fidelity to His call.
May He bless you both, and all with you, in the way He knows is best for you.’
With my loving prayers,
Sr. Mary Magdalen o.c.d.
For those who might be interested in our book these are the details – The Elm Grove Story – a mystical journey ISBN 978-1-922722-55-3 and is available through major booksellers – Angus & Robertson, Booktopia, eBay Australia, Amazon, eden.co.uk.
by admin | Nov 14, 2025 | Newsletter
It feels to me that we are on the edge of the abyss, where a lot of people are lacking in direction and hope because they have thrown out the old religion and belief systems which no longer serve them, but have nothing much to replace it beyond materialism and retail therapy, or worse. I think if we can somehow reach out to people, especially the young, and ask them what would really make a difference in their lives and society in general, and try to get people thinking about the deeper values, we might be able to encourage and support them in making a difference both in their own lives, and eventually in the wider society. I know this sounds like pie in the sky, but we are at a crisis point in society and we need to make some changes to bring about a fairer, more just and loving society.
There are probably many people that are making tentative steps into working out “the meaning of life”, but not sure where they can explore such issues. Our Trust has always respected each person’s beliefs, and been there to walk alongside anyone who wants to take a step into what I know as a wonderful inner universe full of love and compassion and truth. I see this as the spiritual dimension, and to me it is the most important part of our work as a Trust. We are not selling any belief system, but are encouraging others to find their own inner truth.
I recently asked my daughter Clare for some ideas about values that she thinks are important, and she has put together this article.