Silence, Solitude and Exploring Gilchrist

Pastor's Log - Sabbatical Date: 2.1.7 - 23:15
(excerpt from day four at the Hermitage)

This morning I got up and had breakfast.  After which, I went out to the bench by the meadow and saw a deer.  I decided I would try taking a hike in the morning in hopes that the ticks would not be as active.  I hiked to another bench on a rise in the meadow.  It is part of an adjoining retreat property called Gilchrist.  From that bench, I noticed that there appeared to be another prayer labyrinth a little ways off.  I wasn't experiencing the ticks as much so I decided to go and check it out.

When I got there, I discovered an 11 circuit Prayer Labyrinth mowed into a rolling meadow.  I decided to walk this labyrinth as well and really enjoyed it.  I have done several seven circuit labyrinths before, but I don't think that I have done an 11 circuit one before.  It was large enough that it took me about an hour total.  While hiking it, I saw a couple more deer crossing the meadow.  And of course, I did have couple of ticks jump on me as I walked the labyrinth, but I flicked them off without incident.

After doing the labyrinth, I decided to explore a little more of Gilchrist.  I hiked over to the next meadow which had the stone chapel at one end.  I went in and sat down for a moment. While sitting there, I saw, out of the corner of my eye, a snake slithering in under the open door.  I scared it out and then left and shut the door.  I decided to lay in the hammock for a while and enjoye the beautiful day, instead.  Then I hiked through the meadow a bit more and saw some of the flower beds that had been planted, one with a sort of cross in the middle.

I then returned to do my morning prayers and to have lunch.  During the afternoon, I did some scripture reading and read a little more of the Thomas Merton book I checked out of their library.  After supper I finished the Merton book, because I need to return it before I leave tomorrow.  Then I went back to the bench in the meadow and watched the sunset. 



Before it was completely dark, I went back to the fire ring and started a fire.  Around 10 or so when there was no longer much light on the horizon, I came in, got ready for bed and finished my drawing before going to bed. 

As I spend this time away in reflection, it occurs to me that there may be a better rhythm for my "work week" than what I have typically done.  Perhaps there are ways that I can structure my week to be less of a sprint and more of a marathon.  Perhaps there is a rhythm that would allow me to do what God has called me to do in a way that is more true to His desire for sabbath in my everyday life.  I still need to do some discerning about what this looks like and I will need to process whatever I settle on with Beth, but it seems to me that my return to congregational ministry in the fall will be a natural time to try to implement some changes.  Perhaps that will be one of the lasting benefits of taking this time to be away.