Sabbatical Week 12

This week was our annual weeklong pilgrimage with the Kirkpatrick clan to Odell Lake in the Oregon Cascade Mountains.

During the week I read Cintra Pemberton’s book, Soulfaring.  Pemberton is a Catholic nun who regularly visits the Celtic lands of Ireland, Britton, Scotland, and Wales.  In her book she discusses the pilgrimages of the Celtic people.  She identifies two reasons for being on a pilgrimage:  to go on a mission to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ; and to find one’s “resurrection place”.  A resurrection place is where one encounters the holy Triune God.  Our annual trip to Odell Lake is a pilgrimage where Tom and I encounter our holy God.  We have been going to this special place for nearly 25 years.  Let me share with you this year’s pilgrimage.  

We arrived at our cabin at Shelter Cove Resort last Monday, and set up our place of rest and renewal.  The lake, flowers, seagulls, fish, blue jays, chipmunks, osprey, and eagles welcomed us.  

The Kirkpatrick family started to arrive.  There were 16 of us at various times during the week.  Tom and I did miss our children and their families.  They were not able to join us, but we were able to spend lots of time with our relatives from Eugene, Salem, and Portland.   

During the week we went on a number of hikes.  We made several 3-mile hikes up nearby Trapper Creek.  As we walked along this pristine mountain creek we saw sub alpine flowers, verdant meadows, and diverse evergreen trees.  We have many memories of hiking this trail with our Oregon family and with our own children and grandchildren.   You will find a picture of me bending over and dipping my hand in Trapper Creek.  In Celtic tradition I dipped my hand into water three times, in the name of the Trinity, and then I washed my face.  This was a powerful reminder of how Christ’s spirit refreshes my soul.

We also went on several 3- to 6-mile hikes on the Pacific Crest Trail to Midnight and Arrowhead lakes.  We saw bear grass (the flower in our wedding along the Pacific Crest Trail near Enumclaw 37 years ago), a mammoth fungus, spectacular skies and waters, and various wildflowers. 

Our longest hike of the summer (9 miles roundtrip) was to Yuran Lake.  We so enjoyed this hike!!!  The scenery and wildflowers were beautiful and the lake was gorgeous! 

Odell Lake did not disappoint.  I saw God in the trees, in light shimmering on the water, in the eyes of a chipmunk, and in the eyes of family members.  As I hiked, sat by the evening campfire, and prayed in quietness, I experience the reality of this prayer of St. Patrick: 

Christ beside me, Christ before me.

Christ behind me, Christ within me.

            Christ beneath me, Christ above me.

             Christ to the right of me, and Christ to the left of me.

            Christ in my lying, in my sitting, my rising.

            Christ in the heart of all who know me.

Christ on the tongue of all who meet me.

Christ in the eye of all who see me.

Christ in the ear of all who hear me.

When hiking, I often prayed this Celtic prayer:  Lord bless the earth beneath my feet, and bless the journey I am on.   On this sabbatical journey I have been truly blessed!

This last week of sabbatical I will be praying for each of the staff, members, and friends of Kent First Presbyterian Church, and I will be preparing myself to re-enter my ministry at KFP.  See you all on Sunday!!!!

Blessings to you all and enjoy the pictures!!!

  

Sabbatical Week 11

After two weeks of wedding preparation and celebration, I needed time for solitude.  Tom left early to visit family in Oregon while I stayed home to make preparations for joining him mid-week for 2 weeks with our Oregon families.  I practiced morning and evening prayers, finished two books (The Celtic Way of Prayer, and The Help), took daily walks, and cleaned the house.  My times of solitude allowed me to focus on seeing God’s presence close by and in ordinary tasks of daily life.  One area of Celtic Spirituality that was very poignant for me was the realistic awareness of harshness in nature.  There is death, there are enemies that kill and devour, there are times of scarcity, and there are times of illness.  This is true in our human condition as well.  The cross speaks clearly of hope in times of challenge.  In this week of solitude I also received news concerning Neil Bolkcom’s battle for life, and the approaching death of Shirley Shannon.  I prayed for them daily and know that the presence of God is with them in this time of need.  The cross speaks powerfully of the hope that Christ defeated the darkness of sin and death.  So that is still our HOPE today when we don’t see it before us.  Sin and death do not have the last say.

Before Tom left for Oregon we went on a 5-mile hike on Tiger Mountain off Highway 18- -only a 15 minute drive from our home.  The pictures reveal the diverse beauty of the area from rainforest-like moss covered trees to abundant colorful flowers.  As we hiked we made way for trail bikers every 5-10 minutes.  They were so polite and it was great to enjoy this space with others.   

The weekend included visits with my step-daughter’s family in Albany Oregon and my in-laws in Eugene Oregon.  It was great to spend time enjoying the company of our 8 grandchildren, the Robert’s family; having a relaxing dinner to celebrate the birthdays of Tom’s brothers at Kings Estate, a beautiful winery near Eugene; taking a 3-mile ridge-top hike near Eugene; playing games, feasting on fresh-caught Alaska silver salmon, and enjoying home movies with one of Tom’s brothers, sisters-in-law, and niece; and then worshipping and picnicking with Tom’s other Eugene brother and sister-in-law.

Next week we head to Odell Lake for a week with family in the Oregon Cascades, then return home the following week to ready ourselves for re-entry of my ministry at KFP.

Blessing to you all and enjoy the pictures!!!

Sabbatical Weeks 9 & 10

I returned home to enjoy the Pacific northwest, family, and Juliann’s wedding. 

We explored the nearby Soos Creek Trail. The weather was perfect—blue sky and sunny.  We saw beautiful wild flowers and young trees growing out of old stumps. 

Next, family arrived for the much-anticipated wedding.   First to arrive (from Galena, IL) were our son Chris, his girlfriend Sara, his son Sage (age 5), and Sage’s sister Maddy (age 13) and brother Oliver (age 10).  We went swimming and canoeing on Lake Wilderness.  We explored Seattle sites, including the Pacific Science Center, Space Needle, Experience Music Project|Science Fiction Museum, Aquarium, Argosy harbor tour, and lunch at the Hard Rock Café.  A fun time for all!

Next to arrive were Tom’s brother Larry and his wife Margie (from Eugene, OR), and their son Travis and his wife Amber (from Bozeman, MT).  We had a wonderful visit.

Then came last weekend’s wedding festivities in Port Townsend at the Northwest Maritime Center.  Four clans gathered for the union of Juliann Kirkpatrick and Lawrence Stewart:  the Kirkpatrick’s, Stewart’s, Casseday’s (my side of the family), and Royce’s (Lawrence’ mother’s side of the family).  The wedding site was spectacular:  perfect sunny skies, on the waterfront, in the middle of a compass circle representing the Celtic symbol of commitment.  The ceremony was special:  Law’s father, Les (in Stewart kilt) performed the wedding ceremony, I did the charge, and Tom did a Celtic blessing.  Juliann and Law then sprang two moving surprises on our gathered family and friends.  First, they gave family members roses representing those who had died or unable to attend (my mom and dad).  As we threw our roses into the Sound, bagpipes played Amazing Grace.  Not a dry eye in the place.  Second, the ceremony ended with Juliann having the Stewart tartan draped over her shoulder with a Kirkpatrick clan pin holding the tartan together.  It was a wonderful sign of this marriage and the friendship and love between families.

The reception included great food, lots of dancing, and catching up with family and friends.  A real joy for me was dancing with all 15 of my grandchildren.  Truly a day full of lasting memories!

The next day we visited Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park, and then traveled with Chris’ family to Rhonda and Dan James’ vacation home near Shelton.  Juliann and Lawrence Stewart even dropped by to open some wedding gifts.  We returned home by ferry and after a visit to the Seattle Zoo.  Yesterday we said a tearful goodbye to Chris and his family.

Enjoy the pictures!!!!