Cookout and contemplative days

Last Monday, Brother Josép organized another successful cookout. This was our Fourth of July celebration transferred to the Fifth. The food was delicious, the company pleasant, the weather ideal. Thank you, Josép. Next stop: Labor Day.

Independence Day (+1) Cookout. From top left, clockwise: Br. Josép grilling the food (2 pictures): Yanick Savain, Brs. Bob, Randy and Luc; Matthew Wright demonstrating something it seems; Br. Josép doing a client satisfaction survey; another table of Brothers; (center) the porch after cleanup.

The next day, Tuesday we went into three Contemplative Days. Less work, more time for personal prayer and rest. I finished reading Mirabai Starr's contemporary English translation of Julian of Norwich's "Showings," a medieval mystical classic. I am also continued reading Anthony De Mello's "Awareness." For fun, I an reading "Galileo's Daughter" by Dava Sobel. 

Those two should keep me good company as I embark on a two week family visit to Belgium. I will also see friends and hopefully get some time to visit two more beguinages that I haven't seen yet (I'll bring pictures back). So there won't be another Monastery Column entry until early August.

One evening this week, I was invited at the CMA Sisters's "Companionary" for a delicious vegan supper and a cooperative game of Qwirkle. I was surprised to discover a new-fangled Qwirkle game: Qwirkle Cubes. Nobody won since it was a cooperative set. It got me thinking about something I had heard on a podcast I listen to: my ego quite likes "validation through competition." I'll have to ponder on that a bit more...

Blooms and games. From top left, clockwise: sprigs of pink hydrangea (2 pictures); Sisters Shane and Elizabeth playing Qwirkle Cubes with me (and center, the resulting board); close-up of an arrangement of Shasta daisies, Black-eyed Susans. Hostas and others; Brothers Richard and Will departing the choir after Vespers.

I pray for those who are considering a Covid-19 vaccine and those who are hesitant. So many areas and communities of our country are still at risk.

Stay safe.