For the third time in less than a year people gathered at the Lodging House Mission, and then set out to spend a day on the streets of Glasgow as part of a Retreat on the Streets.

This time we were joined by David Rhodes, whose inspiration led to the original idea of holding retreats in Leeds - not in beautiful, peaceful countryside surroundings but in the middle of the noise and contrasts of city streets – where some people have to spend their whole lives, night and day, not just seven hours.

David Rhodes is the author of Sparrow Story, Faith in Dark Places, Lenten Adventure and other books.  He not only took part in the retreat with us, but started us off at the beginning of the day with some very inspirational and moving stories from Leeds – to read what he said, there is a link at the bottom of this page.

Fifteen people participated in the retreat – but we each set out to spend the day alone.  We were given three envelopes to take with us and to open during the day – these contained words from the Bible and also pictures.  These words and pictures had been chosen by people who regularly spend time at the Lodging House Mission because they have been or are homeless – they had spent time together talking about shelter, and what it meant for each of them – so that was the theme of our day too.

We gathered at the Lodging House Mission again at the end of the day to share worship and a meal together, and to talk about the experiences of the day.  Someone told about a conversation with Thomas, a young man who had been homeless, and whose life had been totally changed by the realisation of how much God loves him.  Someone else said that watching an elderly woman struggling determinedly with huge bags had spoken to her of how she needed to be more determined in the task she felt God had called her to.

As we ended the day we all wrote on a big poster some of the things that had struck us during our hours on the streets with no money, no phone, no plastic cards or keys.  Below is a link if you would like to read some of these thoughts.

Click here to read notes on what David Rhodes said

Click here to read comments written at the end of Retreat on the Streets 3

Click here to read about the second Retreat on the Streets

Click here to read about the first Retreat on the Streets