Day 15

Monday, April 20, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

Today was a rainy day.  I slept in and moved very slowly.

My favorite room in the Retreat House is the Meditation Room.  It is located on the third floor at the end of the hall way..,a stone’s throw from my room.  When I arrived, it was being refurbished.  It still has the smell of fresh paint and new wall paper.  The room is simular to a small living room.  It has a couch, several chairs and big window which overlooks the garden.  There is small sculpture of a man praying on the window sill along with a bible.  This is place where I do my Centering Prayer and daily devotional.  After prayers, I often just sit and gaze out the window.

Today, I noticed something usually on the cedar tree just out the window.  There were drops of moisture handing on the tip of the branches.  These drops of rain were like tiny jewels.  They glistened like lights on a Christmas tree.  Today the Holy Spirit surprised me with a litle Christmas in April. Thank you, Lord!

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 14

Sunday, April 19, 2015

Abbey of Gethsemani

Fr. Michael gave the homily at Mass on this day. The title of his sermon was Incredulosu Joy. He told a delightful parable about a snail: A snail was climbing up a cherry tree but the tree was bare. Some birds laughed at him and one bird flew over to mock him by saying: Hey, stupid don’t you know there is no fruit on that tree. The snail kept climbing and replied: Yes, I know, but there will when I get there.
This is what our spiritual journey is like. We climb and move ever so slowly towards Christ but sometimes we cannot see any fruit. Only when we arrive will the fruit be visible.

Fr. Jim joined me for supper. He recently retired as the Retreat House chaplain. He has been such a blessing to me over the years. We met in the Norton Dinning Room which is the only place you can eat and talk. Fr. Jim is an excellent priest and he asked how my spiritual work was going. I confessed that my heart was like a stone. I was cold and frozen inside. I could not seem to open myself up fully to God. He said he would pray for the Holy Spirit to ignite in me.

It was raining when I left him. I sat in the regular dining room and watched the rain. Suddenly a burst of sunlight appear and seemd to shine directly on me. The sun almost blinded me.  W2G Fr. Jim! The Holy Spirit ignited. Then it hit me and I ran outside. There it was…a rainbow. It was an expereince of Incredulous Joy…rain and sun combining to create beauty and a reminder of God’s faithfulness and promise.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 1

Monday, April 6, 2015

Providence Forge, VA

This card was a gift from a dear friend.  It was the gift of encouragement as I prepared for my sabbatical journey.  My friend was caring for me by reminding me that creating a Holy Pause is not easy in our culture of high speed internet and insant gratification.  My dear friend knew me well enough to know that a Holy Pause is difficult for someone like me who needs to be needed and seems to be in an endless rush..always behind…never finished.

Our new Adminsitrative Asistant stopped by the church office where she found me rushing around trying to get everythibg done before my departure.  She shared her own struggles with her new assignment.  She asked me if I had read the Reflections Devotional for the day.  I had not but I read it later.  The devotional was written by Chris Fuller and it was about the prophet Jonah and his relunctance to move out of his comfort zone.  The question Chris leaves with his readers is this: “What new faith-growing territory does God want you to explore?”  So my journey of new faith-growing territory begins..

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 27-Part I

Saturday, May 2, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

I am “jumping tract” today in honor of the Kentucky Derby.  Today is the 141st Run for the Roses. Several years ago, in honor of this KY tradition, the monks created a new flavor of fudge, Mint Julep.

The monks make and sell cheese, fruitcake and fudge as a way of earning their living.
As part of their gracious hospitality, when you are on retreat, they provide samples of their fudge and fruitcake every Tuesday and every Saturday. It is also a good marketing technique because the Abbey Gift Shop is only a short distance from the Retreat House where all of their products can be purchased.

I am not saying I have a problem, let’s just say I have become very fond of their Mint Julep Fudge and I find myself looking forward to Tuesdays and Saturdays. If you would like to try some for yourself, just google to Gethsemani Farms and their Website should come right up. If I were you, I would order soon. Today is Saturday and Tuesday is just around the corner. Happy Derby Day!

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 13

Saturday, April 18, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

While on retreat, the Guestmaster, the monk in charge of the Retreat House, usually gives a talk. He informs the retreatants about the Abbey policies, stresses the need for silence and gives a reflection of his choosing. However, on this day, Fr. Seamus, the Guestmaster, was under the weather so Fr. Carlos stepped in. This was the Holy Spirit at work.

Fr. Carlos is the Retreat House chaplain. He began his talk by saying that you and I are not broken. He went on to say that we all believe we are broken because we all have suffered and endured  hardships. He shared many examples of brokenness from his own life and of those he knew. He compared these stories to the story of the Prodigal Son found in Luke 15.

Fr. Carlos said that the Prodigal Son thought he was broken. He returned to his father hoping to work as a hired hand but his Father saw him through the eyes of love. He was his son. He treated him like a son. This is how God sees each of us no matter what we have done. Therefore, how can we be broken?

A woman retreatant spoke up and shared her story. When she was young she fell in love, ran away from home and moved in with her boyfriend. She became pregnant and the boyfriend left. She had no where to go and no money so she decided to go back home hoping her parents would take her in. When she pulled into her parent’s driveway, her mother came running out to meet her. She welcomed her and her new grandchild with open arms.

In the Abbey Church a banner of the Risen Christ hangs behind the altar. Each time I enter the church I look at the banner and think to myself: Christ sees me as his daughter, therefore, how can I be broken?

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 12

Friday, April 17, 2015

The Abbey of Gethsemani

During his homily this morning, Fr. Anton reminded us that Jesus Christ wants to transform us. We are all on a journey of transformation. However, this journey is not an upward climb but a downward submission.  The Cross of Christ is our best example of this truth.

This day I experienced several reminders of my need to be transformed.  The first was a lovely white orchid which appeared on top of the front desk of the Retreat House forger.  I asked Br. Fredrick about it.  He said it was a gift for someone.  An orchid is delicate.  A trait iI am constantly working on.

The second reminder is God’s way of showing me his love.  I saw a gorgeous butterfly in the garden outside the retreat house.  I smiled with delight and looked skyward with thanksgiving. Thank you, Lord, for the butterfly.

Like the butterfly which must undergo a metamorphosis in the dark cocoon of the chrysalis, so we are called to journey inward so that Christ might change our minds and hearts.

Thomas Merton said it this way: “Our real journey in life is interior; it is a matter of growth, deepening, and of ever greater surrender to the creative action of love and grace in our hearts.”

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 11

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Abbey of Gethesmani

I set my alarm for 5:30 am. I wanted to participate in the prayers and attend Mass.  I missed Lauds but arrived in time for Mass. Fr. Alan was the celebrant and gave the sermon (homily).  Br. Christopher read from Acts 5 where  Peter proclaims to the authorities that: We must obey God and not man.

Fr. Allen reminded us that today was Holocuast Remembrance Day.  He ended his homily by speaking in German the words: “Never Again!”   How I wish we could live in a world where hatred,  violence and genocide would never occur again. Today is another anniversary of a dark day in American life.  It is the anniversary of shooting at VA Tech. 

Over the door way to the Retreat House where I am staying is written the word PAX.  I believe PAX (peace) will only come to us when we truly follow God by loving all people as God loves each of us.  Let us pray for and work for a world where violence. hatred and genocide will never occur again. 

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie

Day 9

Tuesday. April 14, 2015

Quinton, VA-Trappist,KY

I managed to load the car and secure the house by 8 am. After a final trip to the dump and post office, I stopped at McDonald’s for a quick bite. I was now on my way.  It felt like my sabbatical had final begun.

It was raining cats and dogs all day which slowed me down.  The mountains of Virginia and West Virginia were very foggy.  The weather seemed appropriate for on this day in history, President Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s theater in Washington DC. This was also the day when the Titanic hit an iceberg.

I cannot tell you what time I crossover over the state line from West Virginia into Kentucky but the sun seemed to come out at that very moment.   The blossoming of springtime could be seen everywhere I looked.

Kentucky is known as the Bluegrass state because at times when the sun is just right the pasture lands seems to be a bluish green. This day the I encountered one beautiful pastoral scene after another. The cattle were grazing and the horses were frolicking.  The Psalmist reminds us in Psalm 50:10: The cattle on a thousand hills are mine.

I arrived at the Abbey of Gethsemani during the final evening prayer know as Compline. A joyful peace always comes over me when I enter Gethsemani. Here is where I always find God.

I count it all joy,

Pastor Vallerie