Abbey of the Genesee (Part 1)

For a while, in and amongst the postings, I will offer some of what was written while I was at the Abbey of the Genesee…. It wasn’t written in one sitting. I don’t expect anybody to read it all in one sitting…. I invite you to stop whenever you wish. There may be things that are far more important for you to ponder than the next set of words I have written. Perhaps by time you reach the end of the Abbey writings, though, you may have some understanding of how delicious, (and how essential) it is to carve out time regularly to do nothing, absolutely nothing other than “be” in God’s presence.

Also, please, please, PLEASE skip over anything that seems meandering or irrelevant…. Some of what I will offer in postings marked "From the Abbey" is nothing other than the articulation of my rambling thoughts that emerged as I wandered about in silence from November 1 to November 8, 2007. It may not be of any use to you at all….. On the other hand, perhaps the reflections will be fruitful for you in some way.

So... to begin....practical realities about the Abbey of the Genesee

Some of you may have looked at the Abbey web site. If not, take some time to do that now, if you wish. http://www.geneseeabbey.org/ The web site describes the life at the monastery. It provides something about the history, as well as pictures.

Preparation for the time at the Abbey is simple. Packing is a breeze... comfortable clothes, writing paper, candles, and maybe a book or two. Oh yes.... gear for walking about at night...flashlights, reflective items...and something waterproof to sit on. (One never knows when there will be just the right spot to sit and gaze for a while.)

It takes just about 4 hours and 15 minutes to drive to the Abbey (in Piffard, New York). When the weather is friendly and driving conditions are relatively smooth, this is just about the right amount of time to unplug totally from all that smacks of “obligation”. It also gives me time to ponder my degree of openness…the intercessions of my heart…the lingering questions I carry. Part of the discipline of going on retreat is to be as unfettered as possible by self – determined agenda. In other words, I try to avoid saying to myself “while at the Abbey I will work on _____________” (More on that process later).

While on retreat, I stay in a room at the Bethlehem Retreat House, about ½ mile away from the Abbey. The retreat house is on the outskirts of open fields and rolling meadows. At any given moment, natural beauty is before you, whether you are looking inches from your nose or gazing out over the vista of the Genesee Valley. There is also easy access to the Greenway Trail, which meanders about…all the way to Rochester New York. I usually walk to the Abbey 5 or 6 times each day for prayer. Some times I pack my prayer mat, my journal and sketch pad (along with some Monk’s Bread, Water and Fruit/Cheese/Nuts) and walk about for hours on end, stopping wherever and whenever it is time to stop and pray…to simply ponder and gaze….to simply “be”. The accommodations are simple, yet comfortable – A twin bed, a comfortable arm chair, a desk and a dresser. My room also has a private half bath, which I value even more as I age!

The most important amenity in the retreat house is silence…. Total silence…. No matter how many people are residing. The shower room is silent. The hall ways are silent. The refectory, where all meals are served family style, is silent…. except for the last meal of the retreat time, when we may speak to each other quietly. Strangely, though, after prolonged periods of shared silence, not that many people are eager to jump back into conversation. Believe it or not, food actually tastes better when you aren’t talking while you are eating. Spices are more distinct, texture can be more fully appreciated….. and water coursing down the throat feels more precious and refreshing when it is sipped as a complement to food rather than as a “wash” to prepare the tongue for wagging with words.

For people who are not accustomed to being with others in prolonged silence, it may be difficult to believe what I say....but it is true.. A profound sense of community develops over time when we share the space, the activities and the sounds of life without adding our own voices to the mix.

Sometimes a glance is shared...recognizing something beautiful about the scene that might ordinarily go unnoticed. Sometimes there is a feeling of intimacy -- a "connection" that runs deep ... wordless. Sometimes when you pass somebody in the hall they may not look at you at all, but you realize that you are moved to pray God's blessing upon whatever it is that they are experiencing. The bottom line is that you KNOW you are in a community that is moving through several days together with the shared desire to BE WITH GOD above ALL else.