A Step A Way Reflection
It was a midweek reprieve when 11 pilgrims of faith left the known security of home and family to listen to the Spirit of God at New Melleray Abbey near Peosta, IA. Step A Way is an initiative of Father Stephen Benitz, Northwest Regional Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, and Becky Elsbernd, parish nurse at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mason City. The two spiritual leaders have offered four walking pilgrimages – appropriately named Walk A Way – since 2023. This was the first entirely spiritual retreat offered Nov. 11-13.
The Abbey is home to about a dozen Trappist monks who live by the Rule of Saint Benedict. Their mission is to live in harmony with God, their brothers, and the natural world as they pray, eat, and work together. The visiting pilgrims attended several daily prayer times, among them 4:30 a.m. Vigils, 7:30 a.m. Lauds, 11:45 a.m. Sext, 1:45 p.m. None, 5:30 p.m. Vespers, and 7:30 p.m. Compline. They followed along and participated as the monks chanted and recited Psalms at each of the services along with prayer, Scripture, and other sacred readings. As the bells tolled before each service, the mindfulness of contemplation set it, sometimes in darkness, sometimes in light.
Our leaders directed us in the use of spiritual practices in group gatherings. Of the 11, a few were friends, a few acquaintances, a few strangers. We each shared a word we hoped to find in this time together, be it peace, love, safety, or discernment. Personal time to read, walk, and rest was purposely structured. Meals, for the most part, were eaten in silence or soft tones. A night walk to view the Northern Lights showed us we can follow each other only by the sounds of whispered voices – a reminder that the Spirit is ever present in humanity’s darkness.
The Scripture for the pilgrimage was Mark’s account of the Feeding of the 5,000. A new spiritual practice for some was to listen to the text and then visualize ourselves in the Gospel scene. Some would be among the tired and hungry disciples who were irritated with Jesus. How could they feed so many people with five loaves and two fish? Another was the servant gatherer of the baskets of leftovers, offering to share with more followers of The Way. And one sitting on the grass with the throng listened to Jesus and in His eyes saw love, compassion, and forgiveness.
The drive home was filled with welcome talk for some and continued quiet for others. The charge to continue what we learned and experienced at Step A Way was present as we returned to the sometimes-chaotic life and world. The lessons of this spiritual respite will live on when we intentionally make time to step away to listen to God the Holy Spirit each new day we are granted by His grace.
In gratitude for Step A Way,
Jane Reynolds
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