Sunday, January 1, 2012

A New Year to celebrate

I spent the week between Christmas and New Year with three incredible women, at an incredible monastery, with incredible men, all at an incredible time in the life of the church and the world. Did I mention incredible? ;)

We had time to retreat, to pray together and alone, to ponder,to share Eucharist together. I found it to be a beautiful segue both for my soul and for my friendships. Every morning, I snuck out of our house and down to the banks of the mighty Hudson River. Accustomed as I am to waking in the sunrise, I was able to spend time in what I consider the most fruitful time of the day - the early morning - engaging in my love of photography. As I often do, I spent hours looking at the same subject, in this case, the shale beach, trying to capture just the right mood and tone.


I spent a lot of time  with this particular stone, since it was calling out to me as a stepping stone. The river was not glassy smooth that day, as I had fantasized, but I like this picture in any case. My yearning about the photograph is to step way out onto that rock,a firm platform surrounded by the blue mystery...and then I feel  pulled to step out onto the water, almost as if it were possible to walk into the watery horizon. Somehow, the ripples help me imagine that as a possibility.

I have just returned from our first labyrinth walk at Nativity, and feel nourished by the spirits and prayers of the women who came to walk, talk and have tea together. a wonderful way to begin a New Year!


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