Hi everyone,

Well what a finish to our community weekend.  We travelled to Aurora, a beautiful setting in the countryside about 20 minutes north of Richmond Hill.  We arrived at the Carter Centre which is part of Southdown, a treatment centre for religious and clergy.  It is set in the midst of a huge corn field and it seemed like we were eons away from the city.  A perfect place to continue our community weekend.

I was buddied up with Mary Anne and this gave us a chance to bond even more.  There is somuch love in her and a contagious mischevious playful side.  I could just feel us grow stronger in friendship. We arived for a breakfast buffet and mingled among the various L'arche houses that had gathered. We sang and danced and clapped to wake ourselves up and begin a wonderful morning of storytelling.  We focused on the three 'R's"...Relate, Relinquish and Receive.  We told stories of Rosie, George, Helen and other core members who had touched the life of Daybreak.  There was laughter, tears and nodding of heads as the words flowed.

We broke into groups to tell stories of our time at L'Arche and how we were called into one of the "three R's".  I shared my story of meeting up wth Gordie Henry (who came to Riverview with Sue M for the retreat) at Tim Horton's and how I received a great hug and wonderful welcome that melted me.  Later that night at Dayspring worship, Gordie prayed for me and my year here, that my heart would be open to God and this year.  I remember the tears flowing down my face as I sat in this oasis of love.  I think of how this story flowed from the "three R's" for me.

Relate: My connection with Daybreak in he past, some 15 years ago and then three years ago, sowed the seeds for me to be able to be here.  My memories of David Harmon, Heather, Bill, Caroline, Joey, Brian, Tom and so many others were my link.

Relinquish: I had to let go of the Riverview grouping, my friends who have supported me and nutured me.  I also had to let go of the pain and hurt of this past year.  I had to let go of possessions, a specific daily identity as parish priest to come here.

Receive: I have been called to be open to receive love, healing, hope, direction, my path from God and this great community of Daybreak.

It has been so powerful to  live this weekend, but it was not over.  After sharing in our small groups we would choose a story or theme from our sharing and express it in song, drama, art.  Our group was song and it was not the group I was thought I would be in, but it was the group that God put me in.  The result is the picture above which was a "God moment" for me.  Heather sitting above in the wheelchair is from Corner House.  I have been there for meals and always bring my guitar.  Heather loves music, but talks very little.  Her words is in the movement of her body and her soul which transcends words.  She loves to strum the guitar while someone chords.  So we chose two little songs, one about friendships new and old and the other was Kum By Yah, which is the song used to bless the table at Corner House.  Well first of all, you must realize that Heather has a wide personal space that must be respected. I asked permission to enter that so we could play guitar together.  She allowed me the priviledge of coming close to her. She laughed and swayed and strummed as we became one musical instrument.  The theme "My life together" was so vivid at this moment.  Heather is an incredible lady and gave me a wonderful gift in this moment.

We ate lunch together, walked outside and played among the corn fields and took pictures of one another and together which I will share in upcoming blogs.  We then returned for prayer and Sue Mosteller broke open the word and shared on Paul's discourse on the body and how one part cannot say it does not need the other. Sue weaved stories of past and present core members and led us deeper into their stories and our stories. I was blown away when she brought forward Ellen Weinstein who is Jewish and referred to her as "a daughter of the covenant".  Ellen quickly agreed and walked up and stood next to Sue and watched her intently.  It was a powerful moment of how different faiths an come together to worship and learn from one another.

My own story was nourished this day, my dreams my hopes, my struggles.  My life is not solitary, but lived together with other stories that strengthen me, make me laugh, bring me to tears. It was truly a memorable time and a deepening of my love for this community where God truly dwells.

Jeff