After the frantic beginning of fall semester, a busy month of classes and meetings, and an exhausting week of staying up every night to write letters that I will never send to my brother, I am taking a break, a long weekend that I've been looking forward to. I am heading to the monastery.
It's a Benedictine monastery, high up in the hills, a cluster of buildings that includes both a chapel and a sheep farm. Two close friends and I will stay in the old stone cottage, talking, relaxing, reading, and napping. On Saturday afternoon, NurseFriend and I will hike down through the woods to the river, to sit on flat stones in the sun and talk. Saturday night, Monking Friend and I will stay up talking, taking a walk in the moonlight. I will go to some of the services, gathering with the other guests when the bell above the chapel rings. Brother Joking and I will exchange insults. Sunday afternoon, Brother Beekeeper and I will hike through the fields and woods, rambling through the barns, stopping to talk to the sheep and the donkeys.
When I want time by myself, I will walk down the long stone staircase into the crypt, to sit cross-legged in front of the candles. Most people just light one candle, but I will light lots of them, praying for all the people I love as well as people I have never met. I love to stare at all the flames, flickering and dancing in the darkness.
I'll be offline, of course, with my journal and a pen to record my thoughts, taking time to think about that has happened in my life since my last visit, six months ago. Always, a visit to the monastery is a time for sorting through my life, filing memories, thinking over my choices, and getting my life back into balance.
10 comments:
I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing time, jo(e). I wish I could go there with you sometime. I also wish you could go to Chapel House with me sometime. You lead SUCH an interesting life. Sometimes, I am jealous.
I'm in Snowstorm City for about 2 weeks and hope to see you sometime.
We would also like to use some of your pieces in our Zine--unless you want to write us something special. Ann and I love your writing. :-)
Peace and balance, jo(e). Have a good weekend.
May you meditate, and find your inner peace and happiness. Good times on the respite.
ahhhhh, that sounds wonderful. Have a good weekend.
Have a wonderful, peaceful weekend.
I'm so behind on blog-reading, but I'm very glad that I tuned in today. This sounds just wonderful, and I so miss reading your writing. You have a style that is just beautiful.
This sounds like just the thing.
Praise God... sounds wonderful. Did a silent retreat myself about three months ago - was fabulous.
May you be blessed abundantly!
May you find peace.
You know, Jo(e), I'm starting to worry that you don't spend enough time in peaceful, medidative places. Have you considered going on a rafting trip out west, or even going to your family's camp several times during the summer? I'm worried that you are neglecting your spiritual side: hence the focus on ugliness in your writing, instead of things like family and nature.
:)
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