Taize II

Friday I got up to the alarm from Jim's borrowed watch as Duncan and I had ordered a taxi for 5:30 with the kind help of the ladies in El Abiodh. The taxi driver was tuned to a radio station which played all American music except for an interesting rendition of Country Roads in French.

We had to try three times to get the fast train to Paris to be at the embassy by 9 a.m. but were successful at last. The embassy was very easy to find and the workers helpful and efficient. A few hours later, Dunc had an emergency passport and we had 2 and a half hours before our return train. We lunched in the Tuilleries gardens in green chairs at the fountain, walked along the left bank of the Seine and walked halfqway across a pedestrain bridge, and climbed the Arc de Triomphe. Back to Taize in time for dinner and to be greeted by three of the other St. Paul's boys who said it seemed like we had been gone for days instead of hours.

On the train I read Evanly Choirs by Rhys Bowen who described the local pub as a "friendly looking" Red Dragon. Take note, Lee.

Fr. Wolfgang's last pearls of wisdom included:
For love, you cannot say: first I get strong, then I will love...
Democracy is like a ride on a donkey. He said this remark had been misunderstood earlier. He elaborated and said democracy is not always a smoothe ride but that it is the best way to get where you are going dependably.

He also went on to say that Christians have "not yet arrived," which I held in contrast to Thich Nhat Hahn's mantra: I have arrived. I tend to think that Baptism is our arrival but of course that there is journey throughout the rest of our lives, perhaps to get back to the point of baptism!

Was interested to note that in El Abiodh, chocolate is labeled: Namaste Chocolate. It seems wonderful to honor and pay homage to such a marvelous food.

In our last afternoon small group we discussed fair trade as a way to put faith into practice.
But the highlight was chunky Sr. Maria Katerina breaking into a torchy rendition of I Don't Know How to tell Him from Jesus Christ Superstar.

There was a full arc rainbow as we went into our last church service. A couple with a sheepskin invited me to sit on it with them. I did for a bit just to see what it felt like then moved back to my hole in the corner where the sound of Taize music and silence could envelope me. My wish is that all of the St. Paul's pilgrims were enveloped and that none of us will ever entirely emerge from that moment.

Amen.
Lowell