Day 36

Monday, May 11, 2015

Pittsburgh, PA

I left Gethsemani on Sunday evening and drove to Charleston, WVA to spend the night.   I was anxious to get to Pittsburgh because Sallie and Liz were there but had to leave the next morning.

The drive through West Virginia was awesome.  The mountains were grand and glorious.  It was a little after 3 pm when I pulled up at the Hampton Inn on McKinght Rd.

I unpacked and got ready for dinner with the gang. Sallie and Liz picked me up at 5:30 p. m. and the entire Pittsburgh crowd gathered at Greg’s at 6. We all packed into two cars and headed to the North Shore for dinner at Steak and Shake.

Greg, Christine, Owen, Brendan, Tim, Evan, Sallie, Liz, Pauline (Christine’s mother)  and I were all together.  Everyone ordered a milkshake.  We laughed and talked and shared food and tasted each others’s sumptuous shakes.   (A King Family tradition.)  We had the best time!  Unfortunately, we were having so much fun no one thought to take a picture.  What gift to be with my family.

I count it all joy,
Pastor Vallerie

Day 35

Sunday, May 10, 2015-Mother’s Day

The Abbey of Gethsemani

Nothing says Mother’s Day like a mother bird and her nest. In the trees that line the walkway leading to the Abbey Church there is a mother Robin sitting on her nest.  I discovered her quit by accident and most people walk by without noticing this marvel of nature. I enjoyed keeping an eye on the nest during my last week at Gethsemani. I never saw her babies (hacklings) but I did hear the sweet sound of chirping and I watched as she brought them worms. I observed another Robin that always seemed to be sitting by the rree looking up. I can’t be sure, but I assumed that this was “daddy Robin” keeping a watchful eye.

I remember the Kildeer who made her nest outside of Emmaus Church.  How we all enjoyed waiting and watching for her babies to arrive.

Birds are born naked and blind. The mother sits on her young to keep them warm. She feeds them regularly. This Robin is one smart Mom. When her birds leave their nest and fly off, the first thing their eyes will behold is the House of the Lord.  Everyday the monks chant Psalm 122 which says in verse 1: I was glad when they said unto me, let us go to the House of the Lord.

This was my last day at the monastery. I am leaving renewed and with a greater desire to serve Christ. My heart is full.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 34

Saturday, May 9, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

One of my goals during my sabbatical was to spend one on one time with each of my nieces and nephews.  I wrote each of them and asked them if they would like to do something special with me and if so, what would that be.  Rebecca chose to come on retreat the last weekend I was at Gethsemani.  She loves the writings of Thomas Merton.

Rebecca lives in Richmond, KY.  (About 2 hours from the monastery.)  She is Financial Aid Counsleor for online students at Eastern Kentucky University.  She is also currently working on her Masters degree at Morehead University.  I am extremely proud of her.

Rebecca arrived a little after 7 p.m. on Friday evening.  The next morning we attended Fr. Seamus’ conference together.  Fr. Seamus suggested that we take a moment while we on retreat to complete an excersie.  He encouraged us to draw a straight line on a piece of paper.  At the beginning of the line, he asked us to write the year of our birth and at the end write 2015.   Then he asked us to draw a horizontal line on top of the straight line for all the joyous moments of your life.   Then, draw a horizontal line on the bottom on the line for all the painful events.   When you finish, look at these life moments and see God’s grace in all of them.  I followed Fr. Seamus’ suggestion and completed the excerise.

One of the happiest and most significant events of my life was the day Rebecca was born.  She is the person who made me an Aunt.  She is kind, sensitive, caring, smart and has a great sense of humor.  For example, she texted Aunt Sallie saying she was having a great time “being silent” with Aunt Vall.

We went into Bardstown and enjoyed lunch at Kurtz Restaurant. We walked around the grounds at My Old Kentucky Home. At Gethsemani, we walked up Mt. Calvary and attended the offices. We spend WAY too much money at thr gift shop and just enjoyed being together.  It was such a joy to share this sacred place with her.

i count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

The Birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln

Day 33

Hogenville, KY-The Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln

Friday, May 8, 2015

I have been coming on retreat at  Abbey of Gethsemani for 23 years.  Everytime I drive to the Abbey I see the sign, Lincoln’s birthplace 18 miles.  I always thought I should go but just never took the time.  One of the gifts of my sabbatical is time.  I am able to take my time and I do not feel rushed.  Today, I will live in the moment and visit the 16th President’s birthplace. Cecelia drew me a map which led me down the back roads from the monastery to Hogenville.  On the way you pass Lincoln’s boyhood home, which was undergoing renovation and therefore closed.  These were roads I have never traveled in all my years of coming on retreat,  The mountains and countyside was breath taking.  I wanted to beat myself up for waiting so long and for missing so much.  Procrastion is my Achilles’ heel.

President Lincoln was born in a one room log cabin.  To perserve the cabin, the National Park Service has placed it inside a beautiful monument simular to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  It is set on the land once own by his father known as Sinking Spring Farm.  It is a gorgeous wooded area.  To reach the top of the monument you climb up four sets of stairs with 14 steps each.  Each step represents one year of his life.  I never realized Abraham Lincoln was only 56 at his death.

What I was not prepared for was the shear humility one feels as you gaze inside this one room home.  My bedroom is larger than his birthplace.  The Park Ranger on duty could tell I was taken back.  He said to me, I think every person who runs for President of the United States should be required to visit this place.  I agreed.  How grateful I am for his leadership and courage.  We are the UNITED States because of his vision.  The quality of humility is rare in our current political leaders.  Perhaps that is a quality we should insist on, when casting our ballots.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 31

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

I woke-up not feeling my best but I decided to attend Mass anyway.  I am so glad I did.  Fr. Seamus was the celebrant.  The Gospel lesson was taken from John 15.  This is the passage where Jesus reminds his disciples that he is the vine and we are the branches.  He asks us to remain in him so that we might bear much fruit.  Fr. Seamus ended his homily by saying that the fruit we are to bear is love.

I went to breakfast and was eating in the refectory when Kelly came up to me very quietly and passed me a small present.  It was a slice of homemade banana nut bread which she had made.  It was sumptuous and filled with nuts.  I felt very special.  Soon Fr. Jim came along and asked when we might have dinner in the Norton dinning room.  We set the date for Thursday evening.

As I contiuned my breakfast, I was gazing out the refectory windows and noticed blue irises in full bloom.  Such a deep blue color. They were a feast for the eyes.  As if that wasn’t enough, soon two bright yellow finches came along to chow down at the bird feeder.  Another gift for the eyes to behold.   Our Heavenly Father is such a wonderful artist.  Creation is filled with such magnificent beauty and rich color.

Today, I received the fruit of love through others and through nature.  My physical body was a little sluggish but my spirit soared.  Thank you, Lord, for all your gifts galore!

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 30

Tuesday, May 5, 2015-Cinco de Mayo

The Abbey of Gethsemani

The scripture readings at Mass were from the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles.   Jesus promised his disciples that he would leave them an advocate, his Presence, the Holy Spirit.  Jesus promises his disciples and us the gift of his peace.

In Hebrew, the word for peace is Shalom.  Shalom is the peace that comes from God.  This is the peace that transcends the circumstances of life.  This is the peace that Christ promises us.

The Peace of Christ is an internal calm.  When Christ controls our life, our actions reflect his love and compassion.  Most of the struggles we encounter come from within.  Contemplatives called this the False Self. These are the “demons” we have not dealt with honestly.  They are the wounds from childhood.  They are the hurts and pains that we project on to orthers.  Only through prayer and total submission to Christ’s reshaping of our lives can we rid ourselves of the false self and obtain the peace that passes all understanding.  it is a lifelong journey.  That is why the Psalms ask us to be still and know that I am God.

Jesus said: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you.  (John 14:27a).

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Pictured from left to right: Rebecca, Warren, Tim, Greg, Peggy, Mike, myself and Evan

Day 28

Sunday, May 3, 2015

Cracker Barrel in Richmond, KY

I was heading down the Bluegrass Parkway on my way to meet my family for lunch.  Our cousin, Peggy (Aunt Myrtle’s oldest daughter) and her husband, Mike, were joining us.  As I was driving , I was flipping through radio stations in search of classical music when Alan Jackson’s song, Remember When, began to play.  It was the perfect song for this day and this journey.

Peggy is the oldest grandchild on my Mother’s side pf the family.  Peggy and Mike celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.  I remember their wedding as if it were just a few years ago.  The reception  was held in Uncle Milton and Aunt Sue’s backyard.  Everyone on Mom’s side of the family was there.   My most vivid memory of that day happened after the newly weds left for their honeymoon.  My cousin, Barbara Ann, and I snuck into the back bedroom and tried on Peggy’s veil.  I was 13 and my cousin was 12.  We thought we were really something else!

Our grandparents, our parents, all our uncles and aunts and two of our first cousins have all gone before us. Where does the time go?   Today, I remembered when and am very thankful for a time we have now.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 26

Friday, May 1, 2015

Abbey of Gethsemani

I was in my room, reading when someone slipped something under my door. ( I suspect the deliver man was the Guestmaster, Fr. Seamus.)  What a nice surprise!  It was a note from Br, William and a gift.

I had written him to tell him I was at the Abbey on sabbatical.  I wanted to thank him for all his encouragement over the years.  He has been after me to write since I was on sabbatical in 2008!   I also desired to share the good news that I had finally taken his advice and started a blog.

In his note, he told me that he was no longer able to walk but that he was at peace with this.  His gift was the current copy of The Merton Seasonal which was celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth.  Thomas Merton, a monk at Gethsemani until his death in 1968, was a prolific and outstanding spiritual writer.  I was deeply touched by Br. William’s generous and thoughtful gift.

I could not help but ask myself this question:  If the day comes when I am unable to walk, will I handle  it with grace and acceptance?  Thank you, Br. William for modeling God’s grace over and over again to me.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 25

Thursday, April 30, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

On this day, once again, we were treated to two gifts from our Creator.  First, the rain came pouring down around dinner time.  The trees and bushes outside the refectory glistened with drops of moisture.  The wind caused the glistening trees to dance.   As they were swaying back and forth, they reflected the sun and lit-up like Chrsitmas trees.  It felt like I was watching the Holy Spirit dance across Gethsemani.

The second gift was a 3-peat. God treated us to rainbow number three!  Thank you, Lord, for continuing to shower us with your beauty and grace.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie