To Get to Know People October 26, 2005
Posted by NL in : Life , trackbackIt all started a month or so ago. I heard an announcement at church about the church’s weekend at Shrine Mont, basically the campground of the Diocese of Virginia for the Episcopal Church. When I first heard the announcement, I figured I’d have to work that weekend. Then the weekend before the grand Alumni Race when they announced it, I realized that I would not work that weekend.
The next day I ‘registered’ by sending the church an email. It wasn’t until last Monday that I actually turned in the official registration and paid the necessary money.
Friday after work I dropped by the apartment to fill out my timecard online, grab another game and a couple other things and headed out toward Shenandoah National Park. My directions said that it would be at the end of the road, and the road, US-263, most certainly ends at the grounds. After turning off VA-11 onto US-263, I had 13 more miles to travel, and, if I could have driven like a bird, it would have been less than 13 miles because that road wound around, here and there, up and down; we were at the edge of the Appalachians, if not further in.
It turns out that we were staying at an historical landmark. The main building, containing the dining hall is four stories tall, of an architecture definitely from the past, but quite beautiful. Our church’s meeting room was The Ladies’ Parlour, where the ladies would gather in times long past while their husbands discussed other matters such as the War or yesterday’s horse races or whatever they had to talk about. I think my favorite part of the architecture of this building was with the stairs; they went up on either side of the entrance, curving back around and up to the next floor, the hand railing had a beautiful curve as it curved up and around following the stair’s curve to the next floor.
The building I stayed in was basically a motel. The walls were thin — the building not designed originally to be winterized by today’s standards.
After supper we gathered for Evening Prayer, after which we watched Whistle Down the Wind, a British movie made in the 1960’s about some children who find a man in their barn who they think is Jesus but who is actually a criminal.
After the movie I talk with three of the other young people there. One was a young woman, a senior at Shenandoah University studying environmental education; she is engaged, so she’s not available (for those of you who would be wondering). A young man, about 17, and another young woman filled out the group. The second woman is studying nursing somewhere in the Washington Metro Area and has a 3 year old daughter. First impressions, first impressions… I heard all sorts of stories about these three and others in the church, past and present. God’s grace is quite amazing. I went to bed about 1 that morning.
After breakfast we had Morning Prayer and then discussed the movie. After lunch several people took a hike up the mountain to the Cross. The weather was not cooperating — if we were desiring a good view — because about three quarters the way up the mountain we started to be in the clouds; and, from the Cross, you could see a couple hundred feet at most… you would have no idea that the major ridge separating Virginia and West Virginia is not far in the distance.
After returning to the Ladies’ Parlour, I introduced a few more people to the game Set. After supper and Evening Prayer we had a game night, a few of us finished putting together a 3D puzzle of a castle while others played a game of Trivial Pursuit, mid-1990’s style. After we finished the 3D puzzle I joined in on the second game of Trivial Pursuit, but may as well as have not been a part of it considering the grand amount of knowledge that I contributed — or didn’t contribute. After Trivial Pursuit most people went to bed, except for the four of us from Friday night and another young woman who I believe is a freshman in high school. We played a few games of Set, all the while the three girls becoming more and more giddy as the night progressed.
On Sunday morning we had our service, celebrating the Eucharist, at the Shrine, which is an outdoor cathedral of sorts. The altar and bell tower are built of stone, quite simple, but beautiful. The day was a beautiful day, very much contrasted by the previous couple of days and thus-far the subsequent days; and worshiping outside was quite refreshing.
After lunch and packing, four of us decided to hike up to the cross, some of us for our second time, some for our first. This time we could see the mountains in the distance; God’s creation is amazing, beautiful to behold. Two of these people rode back home with me.
For me the weekend was filled with fellowship, meeting new people and getting to know others even better. I think I might actually remember more people’s names now. God is awesome, creation just screams of His goodness. Praise be to God.
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Beautiful picture, made complete by your outpouring of praise for our Creator, Redeemer and Friend. Thank You!