I'm here!

I am now at Taize! I arrived on Sundqy morning after a shuttle ride to downtown Lyon, a train to Macon, and then a bus to Taize! It is beatiful here and quite qn experience. If there are typing errors in this message, you will hqve to excuse them: I am using a French keyboard and the layout is quite different from an American one. I am at a library in the village next to Taize, and they are only open on Tuedays from 3:00 until 4:30. There are probably a couple of thousand people here, including a contingent of approximqtlet 68 that came with Bishop D. from the New Jersey Conference. The prayer times are quite an expereince: there is no way to describe how a couple of thousand people of different tongues can unite their voices so beautifully singing songs in languages other than their own. The landscape is beautiful and the weather is very pleasant: warm with a gentle breeeze. Everyone is part of a small group. The one I have chosen is a group which wishes to spend the week in silence. We have separate sleeping quarters and we eat separately from the rest of the adults (all adults eat separtely from the youth). Instead of group Bible study, we have a one hour introduction session and then we are given an assigment for reflection on our own. We have been asked to set aside two one-hour blocks for personal prayer and reflection. These are to be designated times at designated locations. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week. Since today is the only day that the library is open, I probably will not be able to make another post until I reach Vezelay (the beginning town for my Camino pilgrimage) on Monday. I am well and keeping your all in prayer. Blessings.

Why I'm Traveling El Camino

Dear Friends: I am posting my first entry in response to a question I received. The question was "Why are you taking this pilgrimage?" Well first a description. El Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, is a pilgrimage to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, located in northwestern Spain. It has been one of the most important Christian pilgrimages since medieval times and has existed for over 1000 years. Tradition has it that it is the burial site of the apostle James. I'm going for a number of reasons: One to walk the path of thousands of Christians before me; second, to use the time for reflection as to where God is leading my life, and lastly for the emotional, spiritual and physical challenge it will provide. With my position, I have very few opportunities to spend extended periods of quiet reflection and look forward to having dedicated time with God without the many distractions that are common in every day life. In the left menu bar you will see a link that will lead you to a site which will provide more information about the Camino de Santiago.--Blessings, MD.