Final days at Kanuga ...

I've been home for a couple of days as I write this post and am remembering back as I look at some of the images I captured on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Kanuga is a sanctuary rich in beauty and abounding in spiritual experiences of God's presence!

On Wednesday, the reading which inspired me through my day was: "Things that are covered up from men in this world will become transparent as globes of crystal." I read this as I was sitting beside one of the falls we stopped at and was particularly inspired as I looked at the crystal clear water flowing past. What struck me is the natural beauty of these falls that inspire such a profound awe. Where did the water start from on it's journey to this particular place; how far has it travelled; where is it headed? And then as my inspirational thought for the day reminded me, this crystal globe I saw in these falls is nothing in comparison to the globe of crystal God has planned in His kingdom! This was but a glimpse of what God has promised; and the truth is, what joy there will be to gaze even more deeply into that transparent globe of crystal that will never be dull and never fade away or dry up. That globe of crystal is eternal; it is everlasting; it will be forever! And how absolutely beautiful it will be!

The other inspiration that stuck me was: "... eternity was not attained by those who bartered time for space but by those who knew how to fill their time with spirit!" That's so true! I was thankful at that moment that I had the gift of an opportunity to have the time to fill with time with spiritual grace. In day to day life, that's not an easy discipline to adhere to; there's always something more to be done; an appointment to keep; a sermon to write; a meeting to prepare for. This time of sabbath is teaching me not to barter my time away but rather to fill my time with the spirit. When my time of sabbath comes to an end, I don't want to give this up but rather incorporate it into my discipline of daily living. I also hope to teach and encourage others to do the same because as we do so there are rich opportunities to experience and know the awesome mystery and beauty of God which is more than we can ever imgine.

These falls say so much to me about God's capacity to create. There was power in the rush of the current over the brink of the falls; there was a mist that was cool and refreshing in the warmth of the sun; and there was a dazzling and glistening light show as the sun stuck the moving water presenting the image of a prism or a sparkling diamond. God is just as powerful, just as refreshing and equally if not more so dazzling than what I experienced at "Hooker Falls". God moves just as swiftly in our world and in our lives too; when the heat is turned up by what we may be experiencing in our lives, the spray of God's love and mercy is refreshing beyond belief; and when we recognize the power of the Holy Spirit in our midst, what an inspiring light show! Whether it's "Hooker Falls" or "Looking Glass Falls" or a trickle of water that has no particular name, as I took their portrait through the lens of my camera, I was truly inspired to give thanks and praise to God and recognize the sacramental moment of grace I was experiencing!

On Thursday and Friday I took some photos of the chapel at Kanuga and reflected on what it means to be the church that God calls us to be. I was drawn to the front door which was open wide and sent an invitation that said, "Please come in, be still and experience the presence of God." I wondered, do we keep our doors open inviting those who pass by to come in and experience the holiness of our sacred spaces? Or, do we keep our doors closed shut and even locked? What messages do we send? We need to be intentional in asking these questions because God calls us to have open doors and to welcome the stranger who tries to enter. On one of our outings we met up with a group of "Bikers for Christ"; I wondered how welcome they would feel in many of our churches; would we pass judgement on them based on how they looked; or would we show hospitality to them, welcoming them into our experience of community. They engaged in conversation with us; I wonder if they came into our circles would we do the same? The scriptural passage that comes to mind is from Hebrews 13: 1,2: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it." That is the motto of Kanuga and is posted everywhere throughout the conference facility. They know how to open their door and show hospitality; I pray that we as the church may learn that discipline and spiritual practise too! The hymn that speaks this message of hospitality is one of my favorites, "All Are Welcome in this Place":

Let us build a house where love can dwell
And all can safely live,
A place where saints and children tell
How hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions;
Rock of faith and vault of grace;
Here the love of all shall end divisions:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
All are welcome in this place.

A similar thought struck me as I captured this image through one of the windows near the front of the church. I love our stained glass windows which tell the story of our faith. However, coloured glass is another means of shutting ourselves in and others out. When we are worshipping and praying in our sacred spaces, I like to have a window that is clear glass that reminds me that there is a world out there beyond me. As well, I want those who may be outside to be able to look in and perhaps wonder what we are doing, and maybe even venture in to see and experience it for themselves. Just as our stained glass windows tell a story, so too do our windows of clear glass where we are telling the story.

One last image, a very simple image that for me is at the heart of what we do as a worshipping community of faith; this photo of a chalace and plate on the altar. We are a Eucharistic people who gather at the table to be spiritually fed and nurtured in the breaking of bread and the drinking from the cup. I feel very blessed both when I have the opportunity to preside at the Lord's table, and equally when I am on the receiving end too. The bread of life and the cup of salvation remind me of God's real and abiding presence that sustains me, uplifts me and inspires my faith, hope and trust in God who is always there with me. Through such simple bread and wine, such a powerful yet mysterious gift from God. I can so easlily place myself in that upper room with Jesus on the night before He died and experience first hand what Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 11: 23-26: "the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." It is a priviledge and a true blessing from God to participate in this act of communion and thanksgiving!

This time at Kanuga has been a real blessing for me, rich in spiritual experiences and surrounded by beauty and peace. I have made some new friends through the community of photographers who have been together over this week; I have been inspired as a photographer and as a person of faith by the instructors. I feel richly blessed and thank God for this opportunty! And, I am thankful that I can share some of it with you too! I hope that you have been blessed as well!