This afternoon I drove to Holy Cross Monastery for some retreat time through Saturday and have now gazed on the mighty Hudson River. I have only been here in recent years in the winter and find it quite different in the summer. Finally to sit and read in one of the adirondack chairs overlooking the river is a delight vs. seeing the chairs snow covered!
I came to be in silence and have discovered the house to be filled with Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) young people--so incredibly excited about their upcoming assignments. These are young Episcopalians (ages 23 to 30) who have applied and been accepted to do various international not-for-profit assignments to make a better world. The Episcopal Church funds their housing (once they find it) and provides a stipend and their transportation. The young people are required to raise a portion of their expenses. Their assignments are for 1 year and they don't come home for that solid year. I had dinner with three of them who were headed in September for El Salvador, Colombia, and Rome respectively. There are about 25 of them being trained in matters of safety, foreign culture, finances, visa requirements, housing, etc. It is a fantastic offering the Episcopal Church has for young college grads (or soon to be) who are discerning intentionally what God is calling them to do and be. My days will mostly be in silence and yet I don't want to miss hearing about these young people's upcoming assignments. There is so much hope in their voices and joy in their hearts. The church is alive in them! Surely God is speaking to me through them and I need to listen.
The day has been full of wonder--of water flowing furiously and water flowing gently. It's a privilege to be in this holy place on this feast day of a young woman healed by Jesus and who was a passionate disciple of Jesus. It's a privilege to share this place with passionate young followers of Jesus who will carry his love to all parts of the world through their service. Like the water flowing furiously and gently, their YASC service assignments will be challenging (some even dangerous) and joy-filled. They need our prayers and I'm glad to lift them up this night and throughout this year.
I am grateful beyond words for this time of refreshment and discovery. Thank you for making it possible.