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One of the happier aspects of the fall season in the northern hemisphere is the sudden urge we get to plant bulbs. Having just moved into a new home, with a tiny garden that is bravely trying to survive on a layer of builders’ rubble, I have to admit that this urge was accompanied by considerable misgivings as to the survival chances of a few daffodil bulbs in such hostile terrain. But hope springs eternal, so I took off to the garden center and carefully chose my bulbs.

That, for a while, was as far as my good intentions went. The bulbs sat in the bags I had bought them in, and I engaged with the world in a variety of other ways—a bit like prayer can be, really. The good intentions are there, and even some degree of preparation. But when push comes to shove, almost anything, however trivial, can intervene and claim a higher place among our priorities.

Then, one morning, I was reading Anne Lamott’s This article appears in November 5 2007.

Margaret Silf is passionate about making Christian spirituality, and especially Ignatian spirituality, accessible to people with no theological background. Her columns reflect her experiential approach, drawing connections between the eternal truths of the Christian vision and the moment-by-moment events and choices of everyday living.

Margaret lives in her native England. She is married with a grown daughter, and holds a BA degree in English from London University and a Masters degree from Keele University. Trained by Jesuits of the British Province in spiritual companionship, she left paid employment as a technical author in the computer industry in 2000, to devote her time to writing, and accompanying others on their spiritual journey through retreats, workshops and days of reflection.

She has written many books on the spiritual journey for 21st century pilgrims, including Inner Compass, Close to the Heart, Wayfaring, Sacred Spaces, and the CPA award winning The Gift of Prayer. Her latest titles are Wise Choices (Bluebridge) and Roots and Wings: The Human Journey from a Speck of Stardust to a Spark of God (Eerdmanns).