I’ve been on the road for four days and four nights. Each day has found me somewhere between Western New York and Southwestern Georgia. Each night I’ve retired in a different motel. I’ve seen some lovely sights. Lots of beautiful spring flowers. I’ve seen lovely azaleas, rhododendrons, dogwoods, apple blossoms, and flowers I can’t even name. I’ve seen hundreds of people, thousands of cars and trucks as I’ve motored on over two thousand miles of roads. I’ve been to Allbany, GA; Plains, GA; Clemson, SC and tonight I’m in Winchester, VA. Tomorrow I plan to visit Holy Cross Abbey.
Yesterday afternoon I spent a Vesper service with the Trappist monks of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery. I met Carl McColman who is on my blogroll and who also works in the bookstore at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Monastery. Carl taught me some new things about Thomas Merton and gave me a quick tour of the bookstore at the monastery. I picked up some gifts there for my wife and daughter too. The monastery is lovely and the ground invited me to quiet reflection. I’d like to return again someday for a retreat. While attending vespers I spotted two monks who are members of the Abbey of the Genesee that I visit regularly at home. Imagine my surprise to see two familiar monastic faces eight-hundred miles from home.
I have many special memories of this trip which included a trip to President Jimmy Carter’s home of Plains, GA. What a lovely community and a wonderful museum. Jimmy Carter is my favorite president. His life is a testimony to all he believes. I wish he were our president now in these turbulent times.
It was a treat meeting you. Thanks for stopping by, and for introducing yourself. Hope you’ll make it back our way again, and soon.