The Conference Staff has been on annual retreat over the last couple of days. Every year we do this. We've been to Silver Bay a couple of times. We've gone to NYC. We often stay are B&B's in various places like Owego and Ithaca.
The purpose of the retreat is to take a little time to bond as a staff team. Usually, we discuss a book that a staff person has found to be especially helpful. One year Phil Washburn taught us about "Systems Theory". At another time Bruce Tamlyn spoke to us about another system of personality types within the context of how our staff could work better together.
This year we've been staying at the Trail's End Inn in Keene Valley. It's a nice facility--just right for our needs. Geoffrey purchased copies of the book "This I believe" based on the National Public Radio series by the same name. On Monday afternoon we read through the series of essays by people from every day walks of life as well as though who are famous on this very engaging theme. After reading we spoke of what we read, what stood out for us in these essays, and what we believe.
You may or may not take comfort in this, but your Conference staff believes! This is good news. We believe. We're passionate. We make mistakes. We go on marvelous journey's inspiration, toil, joy, sadness, doubt and faith. In short we're just like you...people in search of ways to grow closer to the source of our being, the truth that unlies all things, the love that pervades all of life...God.
Don't get me wrong, this is not all deep and serious. We laugh a lot and have a very good time, too. For instance last night David Felton decided to regale us with a series of demented camp songs from his youth about Mrs. O'Leary's Cow and the fire of Chicago (or was is San Francisco?) and of the sinking of the Titanic. And, we don't let a few serious discussion get in the way of flights of fancy that take us far off the track.
Tuesday morning we also took care of our need for physical wellbeing and reuniting with NATURE. We climbed the mountain, Rooster's Comb that rises right behing our B&B. It was only 5 miles round trip. But most of us are getting a bit creaky in the joints. Several of us start breathing heavily after climbing a short flight of stairs...but we all made it! It took us over two hours to get to the top and over one hour to walk down...but we made it!
We noticed that we heard and observed a lot more on the way down than on the way up. We heard the birds chirping and the thunder rumbling. We noticed the huge rock out of which trees grew, their roots stretching from the top clutching to the sides and digging into the earth underneath...amazing. We were too busy talking and lifting one foot in front of the other on the way up to notice much of our surroundings. We realized that if we want to notice what's happening around us and within us we have to pay attention. Excellent advice for our churches, we thought!
Well, today we have a morning business meeting, and will head back home after lunch. We'll be finishing up our book reports. Geoffrey asked to to share synopses of a book that we feel is important for use in our work. These have been interesting discussions. But mostly, I'm glad we'll be actively rocking on the front porch tomorrow morning. The exercise on my creaky knees will be much more enjoyable than climbing that mountain! I'll have to go home to rest.
Blessings,
Rick Cowles
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