Palm branches sway easily in the breezes, birds are everywhere and the gardens and farm are able to supply the needs of the retreat centre and beyond. The word Shalom comes to mind; a place for human flourishing. Any traveler who comes is first offered a free lunch of rice and beans, with bread and dips of preserves, figs, dates, hibiscus and humus and fresh cut vegetables. Visitors are free to walk around the property. It struck us, that as we received a guided tour there was not a single mention of “rules for the centre.” It was a simple talk about the vision for the place and its meaning and purpose, with confidence that this would be enough to trust that people would then understand how they ought to be in this place.
Both of the chapels are stunning in their simple and beautiful design. We attended an evening Lenten worship service in the one chapel as we sat on rag rugs woven in the Garbage Village in Cairo. There is no electricity in the building and all the lighting is natural by day or candle lit by night. It was a perfect way for our group to debrief and pull together the lose strings of the past days.
It brought to mind the importance of these kinds of places in our lives. Maybe our homes are like that or we may have other places where we find this kind of retreat and gathering place; a space for individuals or people in community to gather to restore our souls for the work ahead.
As they pass through the dry valley of Baca, they make it a place of good water. The early rain fills the pools with good also. They go from strength to strength. Every one of them stands before God in Zion.
Psalm 84:6-7