I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who were present at the Pilgrimage of Peace 2010 at Wellspring this past month. It was pure joy to be with you. You who came from near and far…from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Vermont, New York, Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Washington, D.C….and as far away as South Korea and India. You were MOST welcome in this place and you blessed us richly with your presence and your gifts.  Deo Gratias.

Special thanks to all at Wellspring/Dayspring who carried the load of the thirty days so graciously and generously both in presence and in prayer. Thanks to Ingrid, Janet, Susan, Jean, Margaret, John Mohr, Carol Fitch, Moira, John Marino, Jeff, Gale, Barbara, Jim, Cheryl,…And many thanks to all the children who lightened our hearts when we were tempted to take ourselves too seriously.

During our time together Christ walked among us, Christ sang through us, Christ ate with us, Christ laughed and cried with us, Christ listened and spoke in and through us.  Adoramus Te.

A question that many asked during the Pilgrimage: How do we continue a prayerful rhythm to the day? How do we continuously enter the garden of contemplation ? There are as many responses to this question as there are people who respond.
A story: A very long time ago in Ireland there lived a man named Fionn. Fionn was sitting one night around the fire with his friends and he put to them a question: ” What is the finest music in all the world?”
So, one by one his friends began to respond to the question. One said, ” The finest music is the song of the lark in the early morning – the first sound that I hear upon rising.” AH…” said Fionn, “that is indeed good music.” Another said, ” The finest music is the sound of lovers whispering their love to each other in the dark of night.” Another good sound”, Fionn responded. Still another spoke, ” The finest music is the sound of children laughing  as they play in the sunlight upon the hillside.” ” Yes, good music , for sure.” Fionn said.
After a few moments they asked Fionn. ” So, tell us, what is the finest music in all the world?. What do you say?”
Fionn took a deep breath and spoke: ” The finest music in all the world is the music of whatever happens…the music of this very moment.”

As we all search to enter and re-enter the garden I pray that we are aware of what is…aware of what is emerging among us…aware of who we are in this preent moment. Not looking backward to some other time, and not looking forward to some imagined time. The music of what is …listen to the song deep within…deep within our souls. Take the time necessary to listen every day. To listen…to hear…to respond… to love…

Shall we stay in touch? I hope so. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to contact me by e-mail at stefan@songsofpeace.net
website: www.songsofpeace.net and  www.communityofpeace.us

During the upcoming months please keep me in prayer as I am “seeking” ( the word on my stone) to find a home to begin a new Community of Peace: a place where a simple , beautiful sung prayer can arise every day and where all people can be deeply welcomed every single day.

Peace of Christ is with and in us all,
Your little brother,
Stefan