Shrine Mont II -“Mountain Highs”
If the key verb for me during my first October retreat time at Shrine Mont at clergy conference was “sleep,” the key word for my second retreat time this last week was “laugh.” And did we ever at the Tri-Diocese (Dioceses of Virginia, Southern Virginia and Southwest Virginia) annual “Fall Camp” there last week. Presenters for Fall Camp 2021 included Terry Hershey and Ed Kilbourne, a dynamic duo that have “presented” at retreats and conferences for various denominations and church groups all around the U. S. Both ordained clergy they have followed their calling to minister through speaking, preaching, writing and, as with Ed, his music. They played off each other like faith siblings who had grown up together and lived through it all. Family times and stories reflective of a Christian journey through scripture, old time and contemporary Christian music and theological reflection dealing with the ups and downs of life and how to live it more generously and joyously were all fair game. They both have wicked (oops “divine”) senses of humor.
In the huge third floor ballroom of the Shrine Mont Virginia house, more than one hundred twenty of us laughed, almost non-stop for our Monday afternoon through Thursday plenary sessions together. Even worship time was sprinkled with humor. I have always loved pictures of Jesus laughing and sensed that He may have joined in from time to time. I imagined God if as a singular image in the Trinity of Father, Son & Holy Spirit, not laughing, but at least smiling indulgently on all of us. And knew at the core of my spirit that the Holy Spirit, invisible but very Present, was in full approval and helping to channel delight every chance it got.
It was time to laugh – after almost two years of pandemic, suppressed social and communal activities and too much worry, anxiety, and unknowingness. It was time to laugh – that soul deep, belly bouncing, spirit exhilarating kind of laughter that can bring tears to one’s eyes along with delight. I imagined my endorphins dancing. I thought of Richard Rohr’s descriptions of the Trinity as “The Divine Dance.” I believe God knew just how much we all needed to be cracked open to joy and used this mountain “high” time after our long, long low pandemic time to offer what we needed to continue this journey we call life: some laughter to shine light and offer a “lightness of being” for a way forward.
Over and over during Fall Camp Terry emphasized and Ed reinforced a three point “learning” about life, our life with God and all Creation: To pay attention! To be astonished! To tell about it!
And so I am right here, right now with this reflection, because after this mountain "high" I feel so ALIVE again. Thanks be to God!
Torrence
