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A PLACE APART |
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a teaching community where all types of people can come for a time to break from the world and rediscover the new way of living introduced by Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. |
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A Place Apart is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Putney, Vermont. © 2009 A Place Apart, Inc. |
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Wednesdays in the Woods We had made a commitment to come together once a week through the fall until Advent-gathering from 6 to 7:30 to share a meal, to deepen our relationships with one and other, to be open to the Mystery that we each are being called to in this community of A Place Apart. We park our cars in the dark and walk over the knoll to the yurt. Candle lite lanterns welcome us to the entrance. We step inside- greetings, smiles, laughter- the warmth and smell from the new wood stove envelope us. There is a feeling of peace in this circular structure of simplicity. The bell is rung for Vespers. We sit in candle light to sing in meditation a verse or song three or four times so it can wash over us- spiral deeper into our beings and prepare us. Then prayer or poem or scriptural reading calls us together before a simple meal of beans and rice. Sometimes we eat quietly, other times we can't contain ourselves. The bell is rung again- it is time to "check-in." This is the part where you risk being vulnerable. We choose to share joy, sorrow, frustrations, gratitude, something nature is showing us, or what we might be called to be doing in our lives. It somehow feels safer here because we have opened ourselves to that greater Love. This is what community must do to grow, to welcome and embrace each other in all our trials short comings and celebrations, to take the risks of uncovering our hidden selves. This is how we heal and continue to heal. Witnessed to in Love. After this, it is time to open our hearts to listening in a deeper, more intentional way to the Lectio Divina and the question of "What speaks to us? What did we hear?" I have been surprised at how many times the group mind shows itself in that we all were taken with the same phrase or word. We close with another song or blessing. It's time to say "Goodnight." It's hard to leave this warm womb like atmosphere, but we must return to our lives and obligations. This is where we are tempered. We gather our things and walk out into the vast star filled night. We will come together again next week. Contributed by Diane Kolsun of the A Place Apart community, Vermont To learn more about how you can visit A Place Apart and be a part of "Wednesdays in the Woods", click here. |
