Our sabbatical spanned July, August, and September and was divided into two parts. The first month was dedicated to painting in our house and visiting family. The second and third months were spent on a long pilgrimage, walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. We walked 560 miles in 43 days, from St. Jean-Pied-de-Port in France to Finisterre in Spain. On our way to Spain, we stopped in Iceland for a short 5-day hike and spent a week in Southern France to celebrate our 30th anniversary. [A more detailed account of our journey is available on our Sabbatical Blog: twohermits.wordpress.com. Scroll down to the first entry “Getting Ready” and read back up through the various entries to get a flavor of our journey. Note that the entry “Paint” should be read before “On Our Way” and “Superlative Iceland.”]
We have many lessons to relate from our journey and many that we are only beginning to learn, now that the walking is over.
We are thankful for the new friends we made among the pilgrims with whom we shared the journey.
We are grateful for the experience of walking together on this strenuous trek.
We remember the generosity of other pilgrims and that what was provided on any given day was what we needed.
The walking was sometimes a struggle and sometimes easy.
The experience of living with only what we need was a refreshing change from our stuff-laden lives. Washing our laundry daily by hand meant that one change of clothes was sufficient for the journey.
Food and water were abundant along the way so we only carried what we had left from a previous meal that would then be incorporated into the next one.
We had ample time each day to pray and reflect on our journey and our responses to natural wonders or illness, injury and exhaustion.
Most days we found something to delight us. And when that proved elusive, we were grateful that the day’s walking brought us nearer to our goal.
We visited many beautiful churches, and walked in walled towns, through villages, along rivers, over mountains, through forests, in vineyards and wheat fields, and along busy highways. There were flies and bed bugs to contend with but very few mosquitoes. The landscape was by turns rugged and urban, agricultural and developed. The landscape welcomed us or was at least indifferent to our presence.
We found contentment in just being where we were each day.
You are invited to join the Ecosystems Discernment Committee in preparing the land for winter and giving thanks for the bounty of the Earth. There will be several outdoor projects to match all skill and energy levels. Rake leaves, spread compost, lay out a new garden expansion, dig a foundation for the garden shed, cut away invasive shrubs, or clear away dead brush. The day will begin with prayer, include a harvest potluck for lunch, and end with Thanksgiving vespers. We will meet, rain or shine, so come prepared for the weather. In case of a downpour, there will be indoor tasks to attend. Come see the beauty of The Hermitage as it is going into the dormant state for winter rest. What kind of beauty can you find? What work will you do to help support the land in this season?
Let us know you are coming and don’t forget to bring a dish to pass for lunch.
time for David and Naomi to go on Sabbatical. They will journey through Iceland and France on their way to walk the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. They join millions of pilgrims who have walked this way over the last thousand years.
Kristi and Zac Bowman-Cooke are at The Hermitage leading a group of volunteer hosts and spiritual directors in the Wenger’s absence.
Check out the Pentecost 2016 Newsletter on this site for more information about summer/fall happenings at The Hermitage.
Take a day for quiet meditation with others during Lent. This retreat will focus on several practices that can foster simplicity and eliminate anxiety in our lives. Jesus’ gentle command, “Do not be anxious,” will form the background for releasing complexities that can make our lives seem frantic.
The retreat is from 9:00 – 3:00 and includes lunch.
Take a day for quiet meditation with others during Lent. This retreat will focus on several practices that can foster simplicity and eliminate anxiety in our lives. Jesus’ gentle command, “Do not be anxious,” will form the background for releasing complexities that can make our lives seem frantic.
The retreat is from 9:00 – 3:00 and includes lunch.
