Spring?

Brother Robert James, our Superior, is on the second week of his three week visitation in South Africa. This Friday, Br. Carl celebrated his eighty-ninth birthday by visiting his sister in New Jersey. Happy Birthday, Carl!

This Saturday, the Guestmaster, Br. Aidan invited me to join him for supper with The Rev. Cari Pattison and Dave Coppola. We went to a nice Thai restaurant in Rhinebeck. This was to thank them for all the hard work they have done in the Guest House Office in these few weeks of transition. Our new Guest House Office Administrator starts this coming week.

Dave is going to go train and prepare for a month before launching on the Pacific Crest Trail. He will start on this 2,653 mi trek in San Diego in early April and be at if for five months. He is an experienced hiker who has done the Appalachian trail. Which is where he met Cari Pattison who tipped him about a place called Holy Cross Monastery. A practicing Buddhist, Dave has taken to the Divine Office with his contemplative attitude.

And in a couple of months, Cari will get back on the Appalachian trail to finish what she started last year. For having hiked on the Camino de Santiago in Southern France, I'm convinced that long-distance hiking is a contemplative form of spirituality. Happy trails to Dave and (later) to Cari. And thank you for all the help.

Table fellowship. From top left, clockwise: Cari Pattison, Dave Coppola, Br. Aidan and Br. Bernard at Aroi Thai Restaurant in Rhinebeck; guests helping themselves to breakfast; the same four on a pedestrian passage in Rhinebeck (I didn't get the memo about the woolen hat).

This past week, the weather has been mild enough for Br. Aidan to venture into the gardens. He spotted our first daffodil. But it is a while yet before the greenery comes back in force. Who knows, winter might even bite back at some point. Or maybe not, in these times of climate change.

Getting outside. From top left, clockwise: the Bell Tower seen through the denuded old oak; our first dafffodil; Br. Aidan back in the gardens after the winter hiatus; daffodil close-up; my sitting prayer corner in my cell at day break.

This Friday, March Br. Josép will be singing Bach's stunning cantata "Ich Habe Genug" in memory of our dear Br. Roy. If you're in the area, join us in music and worship for Vespers at 5 p.m. Our Br. Max will direct the accompanying musicians.

May your Lent be spirit-filled.