Pastor Norman's Journey
St Beunos Monestary, North Wales
"St Beuno’s Ignatian Spirituality Centre extends a welcome to all who seek a time of reflection, prayer and peace. The beautiful hillside setting, with its views of the mountains of Snowdonia and the North Wales coast, has long provided people with the space to reflect on the presence of God in their lives and in the world." This description from their website is apt and I found the time I needed to rest and reflect on God's presence with us as I begin this sabbatical journey. This journey is filled with a great mix of individual reflection and prayer and times of great fellowship and worship. This first stop was great preparation for the journey.
St Beunos Ingnation Sprituality Center
After settling in, and receiving our evening meal, we meet as group and our guides introduced themselves. Then theyt offered information on our stay and the facilities. Once the retreatants meet together on that Monday night and received these few instructions, we were silent for the next three days. The one exception was meeting with our retreat guide.
Walking In Wales
Around St Beunos
In addition to much time in quiet prayer, I took long walks through the Welsh countryside. These also became a moving prayer as I experienced thanksgiving and wonder for our creator God. God's beauty of creation is such a gift.
The silence was gift though at meal times it seemed a bit akward. Still for some reason being silent together seemed to invite us to slow down both at meals and through out the day. This time to slow down remember, think, feel and pray made me wonder if I don't need to slow down more often.
St Beunos Silence
This sculpture of Christ through of his grave clothes as he rises in resurrection is one of the visual reminders of God’s actions enabling us to God’s grace. I meet once a day for an hour with a gentle, encouraging man named Stan, who had served as missionary teacher in Africa.
He encouraged me to rest and recharge as I prepared to embark on my planned visits across Europe. He directed me to think about God’s care, remember the trustworthiness of God and that our Lord does encourage, guide, and empower us as God’s children.
A Ray of Light
Enters St Benos
Through out the three days at the monastery at St. Beunos monastery near St Asaph and Rhyl, Wales a sun shone brightly leading me to assume it is always like this (though my guide denied it.) The time at St. Beunos will remain with me as bright moment in this sabbatical journey.