Just a day after I received the news about the church I set out for the New Camaldoli Hermitage south of Big Sur. I had arranged this retreat for prayer and solitude in February. The timing now seems divinely appointed.
I camped south of Lucia at the Limekiln State Park and for 3 days spent time praying, worshipping with the monks, hiking, checking the blown out surf and smoking cigars while watching the sunset. Big Sur Coast
This is where the Lord gave me the theme of “Pilgrimage”. The monks run a bookstore and on Tuesday I bought Sacred Travels: Recovering the Ancient Practice of Pilgrimage, by Christian George. He writes, “We live in an age that sees people drowning in questions, searching for answers and starved for purpose. Pilgrimage is a spiritual practice that reminds us of our sacred purpose – to grow closer to God…Jesus invites us to take a journey. He asks us to depend on his guidance and navigation. He urges us to abandon our self-confidence and give ourselves to sacred serendipity.”
On Thursday I met with Father Bruno(…you gotta love a monk named Bruno) for a time of spiritual direction. After listening to some of my story he said, “It sounds like God is leading you into a pilgrimage of trust through a time of uncertainty.” Indeed!
I had thought that this summer of sabbatical would be restful as I was leaving one post of ministry with the security that a new work would be waiting in September. It seems, however, that God had a different plan. I keep hearing these words in my spirit, “Sabbatical will be restorative, not because your plans are established, but because I am calling you to trust me thoroughly.”
After returning home from this time of prayer and solitude we set out for Mount Hermon and the Golden Gate Community Retreat. The theme we had chosen months earlier…”Trust”!
“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
