Team Work

This morning is my last post until after retreat. Once I get the car packed I'll be on the road for Loyola House in Guelph, Ontario for the 40-day Spiritual Insititue. As I was driving back to Joan and Don's from the abbey, a theme that has emerged in the past month has been 'team work.' The monks living in community create a beautiful space for visitors, but as those of us in the retreat business know, that doesn't happen without a lot of work in the background holding and creating that space. I read "The Shack" over the weekend in Louisville and a lasting image for me is of the Divine as embodied in a community of love. It occured to me during the soccer tournaments that the players on the field aren't the only team involved. The parents have a parallel team, supporting each other's children and each other. And as I was getting ready to be out of communication for almost 6 weeks, I appreciate all those supporting me in this endeavor. Those who have shared their hospitality, encouragement, support and prayers, especially Joan and Don who let me move in for the last month and use their place as a home base in Cincinnati, and Cathy and Jodie in Chicago who have been coordinating my mail. This is a team effort and a tangible experience of living in the heart of the community of love. Peace, blessings and see you sometime in mid-November.