A Letter From Cynthia Bourgeault, Resident teacher, November 2001

Fr. Richard Rohr with Cynthia at the mini-retreat on Contemplation and Action, held at the Centre in July 2001

Dear friends,

As I write this letter to you, I am on the eve of my homeward journey to British Columbia. I will spend a few days with old friends in Toronto, then a week on retreat at St. Benedict's Monastery in Colorado before returning to you all the first week in December.It has been a very rich three months of sabbatical back here in Maine, a time of deep quiet and renewal as well as intense productivity. On the physical level, the foundation was laid for what will eventually become my full-time hermitage ("eventually" meaning just that; there are still many miles to travel with the Contemplative Society before the hermit's life claims the whole of me). Several members of the Contemplative Society, joining me in Maine the last week in September as participants in the first annual Eagle Island Wisdom School, were there to help with the groundwork and pouring of the cement posts on which the hermitage will someday sit. Particular thanks to Pat and Susan Burns, and the entire Dawe family--Larry, Felicity, Matt, and Charlotte--for tireless work and heavy lugging.

Both spiritually and logistically, the events of September 11 cut right through the heart of my sabbatical time, providing the backdrop for the inner work I was there to do, as well as pointing to the work ahead for all of us. It was serendipitous in the extreme that the Wisdom School met less than two weeks afterwards, with all 15 participants managing to arrive from all over North America (and in one case, from Ireland!) to ponder deeply what is called for in these winnowing times. Whatever else ensues, my strong sense is that the treasures of the Contemplative Tradition--the Wisdom of living quietly, simply, with detachment and compassion; of honing one's life to the existential reality of "Whether I live or die, I am the Lord's"--these treasures are no longer luxuries, but necessities for a world which has lost its bearings, if not its soul.

Perhaps my strongest impression from the time spent physically apart from you all is the deepened conviction that the Mercy of God is real; that we are each living cells in the one living body of Christ, and that only through regaining our true sense of corporeity (rather than our funky individualism) will the body of the world be reconciled and healed. I am hoping that each one of you who receives this letter will take some time to reflect on the dignity and responsibility of your own vocation as a contemplative and the opportunities to share that Wisdom which comes in simply living the life.

I will return to a full winter calendar of events: the Advent retreat in early December, more retreats await in February and April, as well as the continuing Helminski groups and the winter teaching at Queenswood, which this year will focus on "The Roots and Wings of Christian Mysticism." There are also several opportunities to to begin or deepen a practice of Centering Prayer through an introductory workshop, or through the five-day intensive at Vancouver School of Theology.

One of the things one crosses one's fingers about when heading off on sabbatical is how well a fledgling organization like the Contemplative Society will fare with its director gone. I am delighted to report that the Society passed this test with flying colours beyond my wildest estimations. Not only did the Board work smoothly together to keep operations going, but also leadership and teaching roles were filled admirably by Christopher Page, John Lowan, and Diane Tolomeo. In many ways the Contemplative Society came into its own this fall, proving clearly that Wisdom resides in the tradition itself rather than in any individual teacher, and is accessed through collegeality, trust, and sharing. I look forward to returning to the fellowship of a whole company of Wisdom teachers, each one bringing his or her distinct energy and angle of vision.

My love and blessings to all of you.

See you in Advent!

Cynthia