Sunday Dinner

I've just returned to my room from an evening concert of classical guitar played in the lobby by a tatooed young man with black wavy hair, a 5 o'clock shadow and an incredible gift. He came to the monastery a few days ago seeking a short refuge from his city life in Austin and some spiritual direction from the brothers.

It was the perfect end to a wonderful day of rest and relaxation. It being Sunday, we began the day with Morning Praise followed by breakfast and Mass before going our separate ways until dinner. I took the opportunity to take a morning walk and an afternoon nap. When the 5 o'clock bell rang, I hopped up from my bed and hurried to the chapel for Vespers with Benediction followed by Dinner. The dining hall was filled with wonderful smells as we gathered to say grace, thanking God for our meal.

Gratefully we went through the buffet line and filled our plates with turkey meatloaf, rosemary and olive oil potatoes, green beans with bacon, salad with homegrown lettuces, fruit and cheese, and wine or beer along with ice tea and lemonade to drink. For dessert there was friut cobbler and toll house cookies baked in a pan and cut into squares served with scoops of vanilla ice cream.

We sat eight to a table and enjoyed lively conversations and then worked in crews to clear the dishes and put away the food in the kitchen. My job was to scrape the dishes and load them into the commercial dishwasher which cleans and sanitizes each load in a matter of minutes. We put through trays of dinner plates, salad plates, bowls, water pitchers, trays and serving dishes, silverware, and finally glasses. It was hot work, but fun too as we worked together to get it all done.

Afterward we went downstairs to the gathering room with stacked river stone fire place and cut-tin lamps dangling from a wooden-beamed ceiling. We sat together on the couches and chairs drawn together in a cozy grouping for thirty to enjoy the remainder of the evening with our fellow guest, the classical guitarist. As he welcomed us in to the circle around him, he picked up his instrument and removed his glasses. We faded from sight as he played piece after piece of beautiful music, all from memory, and became one with the music, his guitar, and all who were listening. After an hour and a half the concert was over we showed our appreciation with applause and a blessing led by Brother John. Slowly we rose from our seats and put away the chairs before walking quietly back to our rooms in thanksgiving for this beautiful day.

- Posted from my iPad