A Friday Calm

There's a big sense of calm in the house right now, and I think that it's due in large part to two things: A. had a job interview this morning at a company that is literally right around the corner from our house, and we're leaving this afternoon for our Shrine Mont weekend. The car is gassed up, the suitcases have been packed and loaded, and I'm gathering my short stack of books (some Barbara Brown Taylor, Anne Lamott, my journal, the Bible, and maybe one work of fiction; I haven't decided -- and yes, this does qualify as a short stack. Anyone who has seen the books in our house knows that for a fact!).

For the next few days, the only sounds will be children playing on the lawn, the conversations between members of our church family, my pen on the pages of my journal, the flipping of pages in a book, and (hopefully) the wind blowing through the trees in this Shenandoah Valley retreat.

Have a great weekend, everyone -- and to all the dads out there, Happy Father's Day!

Cycling Back to Old Journal Entries

This is hardly going to be an entertaining or even interesting post; it's been one of those days that, when I first started keeping a journal 26 years ago, would result in an entry that simply read, "Another boring day." It was just another day of sending out resumes and waiting for the phone to ring. The family is really looking forward to its annual trip to Shrine Mont, the Diocese of Virginia's retreat center about 2-1/2 hours outside D.C.; it will be nice to relax, refresh ourselves, and not really have to worry about anything for three days other than enjoying some great fellowship and fun with folks from our church.

I guess when I have an original thought or something worth posting about, I'll be back. Otherwise, feel free to search the archives!!

Father's Day at Shrine Mont

A very happy Father's Day to all of the father's out there today! My celebration comes on the heels of a very relaxing and very rejuvenating three-day weekend at the retreat center for the Episcopal diocese of Virginia, Shrine Mont. After trying for two years to make what is an annual parish weekend for our church, we finally made it (three times a charm!) into the foothills of the Shenandoah Valley for a refreshing time with old and new friends alike.

No phones, no blackberries, no computers (a tribute, perhaps, to "Gilligan's Island" -- "no phone, no light, no motor car"?). As someone who depends on each of those every day (more than I should, in fact), I can honstly admit that I didn't miss a minute of the technology that makes the world go 'round. The only sounds we heard during the weekend were the sounds of singing, children playing, laughter, great conversation, and wonderful communal prayer. Good mountain air does wonders for the body, and the quiet does wonders for the soul -- so everyone in my family came back to the routine of our lives greatly regenerated.

The homily at our closing Eucharist this morning included the admonition that we should take a small part of our weekend back into the world as a seed to plant and nurture, and in so doing bring our witness more actively into our everyday lives. There were so many incidents great and small that would certainly provide good seeds, and I'm sure the community as a whole will be greatly enriched for what each of us at Shrine Mont carried away with us.

For me, one seed would be the love shared by the community of our church at this retreat (a love that abounds always), and which can and should be shared with others. Another seed would be the value and enjoyment of the special, quiet moments that I spent with my family and with our friends.

However, my most special seed would be the thrill of sitting by the lake with my little girl on our first night there, listening to nothing but the sounds of nature, her questions about what we were hearing coming out of the darkness, and her laughter and joy at just being there.

I can't think of any greater Father's Day gift than that.