It was an incredible experience: the early morning walks in the dark, when only their voices identified the friends with me; the daily offices prayed with conviction; the presentations from the group that have given us tools to work with; the psalms read with one verse per person; the happy meals; the sharing of joy and pain; the snow falling beneficently during the Eucharist, which we served to each other. We left the Vestry Retreat at the Lutheran Camp a unified body, knowing each other (and loving each other) ever so much more than we did when we arrived. And through it, over it, underpinning it, the Holy Spirit, moving, urging, nudging. Father James, a wise and spiritual leader, opened us up to an amazing grace. Thank you Lord for Father James; today is his birthday;bless him.(Written, Feb. 9, 1999)

The Rumbling It began with feet crunching on the frosty gravel; It came to a close with gravelly snow falling. We began with expectancy; We left each other in unity. The Quickening Half-dead, we arrived in bunches from our over-filled week. Exhausted, we gathered for a meal, refreshing our bodies. With trepidation we faced the weekend; what were we in for? Compline, that evening, pulled us together. As the next day developed, a low rumbling was felt; The heating system? A distant semi? We listened, shared. One by one the presentations began to open our hearts and minds. The Daily Offices pulled us together. During the brief respites from the mind-absorbing, heart-stretching Exercises and lessons, many of us walked in the snowy landscape Looking for rest from the sometimes painful growth we felt. The rumbling was louder as we said Vespers. Sunday, a different exhaustion fell over us and our fellow retreaters; We had laughed, cried, dreamed, agreed and disagreed, always together And always around the Word of the Lord and the familiar words of prayer. Eucharist was joyful, prayerful, re-freshing. The hardest work of the retreat began then; How to put into practice that which We had learned, shared, and dreamed. The distant rumbling came closer and Closer as we struggled to make sense of all We had ingested and digested. Finally I recognized the rumbling: The Holy Spirit, moving among us and through us. So, with minds and hearts quickened by the fellowship of the Body of Christ And with the strength woven through us by the Holy Spirt, We left this quiet place where we had come together at meals, prayers, and the Meal, In emotional overload, but eager to move on. snd

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