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One summer several years ago, I joined my niece and her family at a Family Camp held at Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg, California. One of the afternoon activities was canoeing on a local river. I hadn’t canoed since Girl Scout camp more than 40 years ago, and I discovered that I’m an abysmal paddler. Who had time to commune with nature when we kept zig-zagging down the river despite being helped by the current. Then, far worse, we struggled mightily to get back to the dock. As I recall, we were finally ignominiously towed in.
So it was with curiosity and vicarious pleasure that I read about the River of Life: Connecticut River Pilgrimage, 2017. At the suggestion of The Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, Episcopal Bishop of New Hampshire; with the support of the seven New England Episcopal dioceses; and in partnership with other organizations, a 40-day, 406-mile river pilgrimage was launched.
A few weeks ago, the Sisters of Mercy Northeast Community sent a letter to each member inviting us to engage in a “deeper reflection of our own internalized violence.” I am so grateful to my community for continually encouraging me to look deeper at my behaviors, language and motivations, but the interior exploration of personal violence is not an easy one.
Layer upon layer. Trial after trial. Our lives consist of a series of events folded in upon each other. A foundation is laid. Year after year, people, places, problems and pleasures are layered. Between what might seem like disjointed incidents, a vibrant life force blends the layers producing a beautiful, fertile landscape upon which we grow.
Yes, yes and yes. To make a stand or take a stand is noble, courageous. And so needed, especially these days when there is such a lack of integrity in so many sectors of life.
