July Twenty-Twenty-Four

 

This month, we have had a revolving door at our house with a lot of summer comings and goings.  Taylor went on a NOLS trip heading out to backpack for a month in the Waddington Range in British Columbia. Anna returned from Yosemite where she did research through a program at Scripps there.  Jason and I soaked up some NW beauty on some trails nearby. And this past week, Jason, Anna, and I went on a pilgrimage of sorts to experience the gift of the Taizé community in France (an ecumenical Christian monastery that is really one of a kind). 

If I had my life to live over again, I would ask that not a thing be changed, 

but that my eyes be opened wider.  -Jules Renard

 

Do not spoil the wonder with haste! 

— Legolas, The Return of the King

Every morning, the rising sun invites and inspires us to begin again.— Debasish Mridha

Offering genuine gratitude comes from a willingness to take account for all you have been given and to understand that none of it was guaranteed. -Day Schildkret 

Rather than living every day as if it’s my last, I’ve shifted to a gentler approach of living every day as if it’s my first. I want to wake up and meet the day with the wonder of a newborn, to cultivate childlike qualities of curiosity and play. -Suleika Jaouad 

Joy is gratefulness unbound. – Joe Primo 

Blessed is the path on which you travel. Blessed is the body that carries you upon it. Blessed is your heart that has heard the call. Blessed is your mind that discerns the way. Blessed is the gift that you will receive by going. Truly blessed is the gift that you will become on the journey. - Eric Williams, “Blessed is the Path”

Let love start this day. Let love end this day. Let love transform the minutes in between.

-Rachel Macy Stafford 

Time is how you spend your love. -Nick Laird 

Contemplation is nothing more than one’s whole person being seized by the reality of God’s love. - Brother Roger of Taizé

Praying does not remove us from the world's preoccupations. On the contrary, nothing is more responsible than praying: the more we live a very simple, very humble prayer, the more we are brought to love and to express that by our lives.  - Brother Roger of Taizé

Welcome to Taize!

Welcome to Taize! 

https://www.taize.fr/en

We were dozing on and off on our early morning train ride from Paris to Taizé on Sunday 7/29, but almost every time I woke up, I was delighted with the sight of sunflower fields out the window in the French countryside. 

the road to Taizé

Tobias (whom we met on the bus that we took from the train station on Sunday) has been coming to Taizé every year since he was 14 (and he is now 33). When we got here, he took us under his wing and took us to his favorite spot on site which is the chapel in the village of Taizé. We went in there and began to sing since no one else was there. First of all, Tobias can sing and makes everyone else around him sound good. Secondly, there is an echo in the chapel that is unlike anything I’ve ever heard and makes for such incredible singing. What a way to begin our pilgrimage here! 

the chapel in the village of Taizé

All the Americans visiting Taizé (Elisa and Scott Scheuer with their three kids from Roanoke, VA and Janelle and Forest Buckner with their three kids (2 not pictured here) from Spokane, WA) with Brother Emile who met with us to share more about Taizé

the chapel in the village of Ameugny (a 10 minute walk from Taizé) 

running buddy (Thomas from Germany) 

the church here at Taizé with the sunshine pouring through for morning prayer 

Anna is in a program for the youth (anyone up to age 35), and has met some wonderful folks from around Europe in her group. I am in a group with adults from Slovenia, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands, and Jason is finding some wonderful space in several of the nearby chapels with the opportunity to be in silence during part of the day set apart for small groups. 

Letter given to all who arrive in 2024 from Brother Matthew: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.taize.fr/IMG/pdf/lettre2024_en_final.pdf

from Wikipedia about Taize

Taizé Introduction

These photos from this children's book about Taizé are a wonderful introduction to this magical place to give a window into the place we are experiencing this week.... ☩ 💛

Happy 28th Anniversary- Paris Edition

what a way to start the day at Sainte-Chapelle 

a quick walk by Notre Dame which will be open again in December 2024 

a stop in the famous department store in Paris on our walk to the L'Orangerie 

lunch of crepes and a croque monsieur with our wonderful French waiter 

walking outside the Louvre (where they ran with the torch last night!) 

our favorite stop of the day at L'Orangerie to see Monet's incredible water lilies 

 

 

 

The Little Dancer of Fourteen Years-- Musee D'Orsay

Our second attempt to make it to the Rodin Museum was delayed by a cycling race (which was one of Jason's highlights of the day!), but I was able to sweet talk our way in just before closing (using the anniversary card), and we were able to squeeze in for a quick visit with the Thinker and the Kiss. 

dinner out at Faubourg Daimant-- one of the best vegan restaurants we've been to (Kudos to Jason for finding this gem in Paris!)