Reflections from Retreat

Rhonda, a recent visitor to our community, writes:

I am far from being a disciplined blog writer, but in a recent retreat/holiday visit to Brookfield Northumbria Community I wanted to take this opportunity to write and share my story from St. Clare’s Cottage.  Having just finished a challenging semester of study, I knew that time away from the ordinary would do me good. In essence, while at the community, I took each moment as it came and lived at, and shared life with the folk at St. Clare’s.

I have not found it easy to find the words to express my community experience. So I thought, if I can find a story, or expression of thought already written, maybe this could be a jumping off point for my own thoughts. In the words of Charles Ringma, in Hear the Ancient Wisdom, he says, “In being heard and embraced we are healed. Therefore, the community of faith needs to be a place of welcome and honesty. It needs to be a place where we are accepted with all our hurts and needs. …. A place where our true self . . . is in the forefront”.  And then he adds a concluding thought, “Healing is being comforted into wholeness.”

Participating in the rhythms of prayer throughout the day became a surprisingly delightful experience and thus I became the “bell ringer” for the days I was there. I rang the bell with gusto as this seemed to represent the joy that I was feeling on the inside. I am certainly at home with being by myself, but maybe all the long hours of study I had had, left me hungry to talk, share and laugh with others, when possible, amongst the varied activities and life of the community. I particularly looked forward to the times of communion during meal times, as it fit. Oh the conversation, the laughter, the spirit of fellowship was so alive and life-giving. The mornings at Brookfield were very cold (7.6 degrees at 5 am), but what warmed my heart, indeed my whole self, was the spirit of love and hospitality at Brookfield. 

My involvement with the Northumbria Community at large, though sparse at times, has been a wonderful blessing and strength and as quoted earlier, this community has demonstrated that, “Healing is being comforted into wholeness”.

Rhonda Ransford