Taize describes itself as a pilgrimage of trust on the earth. It is a community of brothers who live in celibacy and simplicity and worship. They allow others to join them for a few days or weeks in this pilgrimage, and the young people flock here, although this week before the major holidays it is still subdued. Taize invites us all to be bearers of peace and trust.
Trust has become the theme of my week, perhaps it will become the theme of my sabbatical. I have arrived on a continent where I do not know anyone. And so I must trust in others. Sometimes it is easy to trust, such as the people at the information window at the Gare de Lyon. Other times I am not sure how much to trust, such as the gypsy at the Gare de Lyon who provided me much needed assistance but from whom I eventually needed to separate so that I could make some decisions and get some information on my own. There was also the woman who gave me a ride to O'Hare in Chicago. Ultimately I was late but I did make it here.
Finally here at Taize I am making some friends amidst all these strangers. We are assigned Bible study groups and since I was assigned an English speaking one I have met some English and Americans with whom I have had good conversations. I was explaining the American presidential political process to the Britons and they found it very complicated, which it is.
I was also assigned a work group and there I met a Swiss woman who lives in Bern. That eventually led to an attempt at conversation with some Germans who didn't know much English, something that hasn't happened much. German is the most common language spoken at Taize this week, but many Germans speak English very well.
It is good to have some people that you feel like you know a little bit and can trust.
In the worship I realize that the ultimate question of trust is with God. Do I trust in God's care for me and for God's world? How do I continue to trust in the face of disappointment? How do I find the capacity to trust again someone who was not trustworthy about something? Trust is perhaps a discipline, a discipline I hope to cultivate here. If I can find the capacity to fully trust God even when things are not going my way, then I am on the road to maturity.
Trust has become the theme of my week, perhaps it will become the theme of my sabbatical. I have arrived on a continent where I do not know anyone. And so I must trust in others. Sometimes it is easy to trust, such as the people at the information window at the Gare de Lyon. Other times I am not sure how much to trust, such as the gypsy at the Gare de Lyon who provided me much needed assistance but from whom I eventually needed to separate so that I could make some decisions and get some information on my own. There was also the woman who gave me a ride to O'Hare in Chicago. Ultimately I was late but I did make it here.
Finally here at Taize I am making some friends amidst all these strangers. We are assigned Bible study groups and since I was assigned an English speaking one I have met some English and Americans with whom I have had good conversations. I was explaining the American presidential political process to the Britons and they found it very complicated, which it is.
I was also assigned a work group and there I met a Swiss woman who lives in Bern. That eventually led to an attempt at conversation with some Germans who didn't know much English, something that hasn't happened much. German is the most common language spoken at Taize this week, but many Germans speak English very well.
It is good to have some people that you feel like you know a little bit and can trust.
In the worship I realize that the ultimate question of trust is with God. Do I trust in God's care for me and for God's world? How do I continue to trust in the face of disappointment? How do I find the capacity to trust again someone who was not trustworthy about something? Trust is perhaps a discipline, a discipline I hope to cultivate here. If I can find the capacity to fully trust God even when things are not going my way, then I am on the road to maturity.
1 comment:
Doug,
May you grow in trust in mankind, God, and your self. I wish I could be there with you.
Warm regards,
The Magician
Post a Comment