Sunday morning in LA
Sunday evening in Los Angeles. The afternoon air is beginning to cool. The sun is setting. It was a busy day at First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, where I serve as Senior Minister. My sermon this morning was titled – “Did You Get Healed?” Back to work. Back in Los Angeles. And gladly so. Yet, I find myself flooded with memories from Italy. So many thoughts. So many feelings. So many sweet pictures of people bouncing around inside my consciousness.
Wonderful people
I am filled with gratitude. When I am grateful, I am alive. When I am not grateful, I am already dead. I am alive today! I think of the people who participated in the retreat. Beautiful people. Amazing people. It was a convergence of many perfections. So much joy. So much meaning. How wonderful it is when people share a journey. Indeed, a community was born in Tuscany. Good people. Good friends. Unforgettable memories.
The Villa
Although there are too many highlights to recount, I will name a few . . . Wine and appetizers outside the glowing yellow villa of Il Trebbiolo. Sabrina’s smiling face. Our first dinner in the Atrium. Explorations into the “God who is in all things.” The God who “shares creative power with us.” The God “who is in all people.” The divine presence that is “deeply within yet always beyond. The Source, the Mystery, and the All in All.” And then living gratefully, mindfully and artfully. Risking our individuality with courage and faith. The grace of saying, “This is who I am,” without strain or defensiveness. Walks to the monastery. Real walks! Time at the pool. Morning stretches. Exploring grief and grievances. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day balloons that become so large inside our minds. Recognizing that forgiveness is about letting go. Moving on. Forgiveness is about finding a way to go forward, even when life has gone very wrong. Even when we have been wronged, the way forward is forgiveness. Dinner at Torre al Sasso. The beautiful terrace. And laughter. So much laughter. A lunar eclipse. Yes, a lunar eclipse! More walks. Conversations at breakfast and lunch. A garden party at Emerson and Cheryl’s Tuscan dream house. And then dinner on the villa terrace. And another moon. A great burning citrus in the sky. We were moonstruck! Lunatics for a night. And of course, dancing in the moonlight with Van the Man Morrison. Do the turbulence! Ride the pony! Surf in the circle of dance! And then Friday morning. The mantra of the retreat – “Be who you are; Want what you have; Do what you can.” What do we take home? We take one another. That is surely the greatest gift of all. We take one another. Is there anything more sacred than when people share the stories of their lives with one another?
We thank you!
Emerson and Cheryl were extraordinary hosts. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. As for Marti, simply put, this retreat would not have happened without her. She is now considering the possibility of opening up her own Italian Taxi Service! And as for me, I came to Italy to help others, but the others I tried to help, wound up helping me. How can I be anything but grateful?
Some have asked: What’s next? I don’t have an answer to that question right now. But I suspect we will drink again from the glory that is Italy, and that someday our group will re-form, and we will again be pilgrims on a journey and not mere tourists on vacation. I love you all.
RSC
p.s. We hope you enjoy the following video we created to honor all of you and the special time we shared together in sweet Italia. May we never forget!
