It turned out I was headed into a blizzard. It must have taken six or seven hours to drive from my home, at the base of the foothills, to Glenwood Springs, on the other side of the Divide. (Normally a four or five-hour trip at most.) All the way I saw cars pulled off the road in the storm, but I was afraid if I stopped, that might be “it” for my poor old Datsun, so I kept going. Snowmass Creek, where the monks had their ranch, was normally about an hour plus from Glenwood. I couldn’t believe it when I finally pulled in around two a.m. The monks had left a key for me at one of their old retreat houses. I fumbled my way around with a flashlight, and finally fell into this cozy bed with all my clothes on a few minutes later. Talk about scared! I couldn’t believe it was

me?

A bright sunny morning awakened me after a sound sleep, and I finally tore myself from the warmth of the blankets and quilts I had piled on. Things were, brrrrr, cold! I managed to sprinkle myself with cold water and get cleaned up a bit, then looked through the windows at my beautiful snow-covered surroundings. I had no idea in Heaven where I was!

Soon came a knock at the door, and in came a very serious-looking red-headed fellow in spectacles and brown robes! I wondered if he were allowed to speak with me (Trappist Monks and all), but of course he was. He introduced himself as Brother Thomas, aologized very politely that the “Retreat Director” had not yet put in an appearance, and said for the moment he would be answering my questions, the others were busy getting ready for the “Intensive”. He made me feel so very welcome on that cold winter day!

We chatted for awhile, and I opened up and told him what had brought me all the way across the mountains in such a storm. He was a great listener. I asked him whatever the “Intensive” was about. That was when I learned I had landed on the doorstep of one of the most prominent Meditation Centers in the known Christian world, quite by accident. I told Brother Thomas of my prior experience with “Meditation” and how it had frightened me a bit. I told him that in the ensuing nine years or so, I would keep coming back, to take a “peek” and see if the “experience” was still there. But he told me that this upcoming workshop was fairly expensive, usually paid for, I guess, by groups who sent their representatives. It was happening the following day, and also, it was filled to the brim. That was why the space I had was only available for a day or two, as I had been told before I drove over.. I am sure he could see the slight look of disappointment on my face when I heard about this wonderful meditative worshop, so very far out of my reach…

Nonetheless, I set about to make this time at Snowmass Monastery the “absolute best” I could, in the two or three days I had.

These short two or three-day retreats had been what I was used to every two or three years anyway, and they had always been wonderful, like a terrific “mini-vacation” for me—a chance to truly “re-create”, rethink goals, and set out on some new paths for myself.

A few hours later, Brother Thomas was back. Guess what! Would I be interested, or able, to take up residence for the following ten days? Uh…, er…, would I ever! But I had very little money! Never mind, Brother Thomas said. Someone due in the next day had encounted a heart problem and simply had to cancel out. They would be delighted if I could fill in for him! They would like for me to move immediately up to the Guest House, closer to the Chapel, though, where I was to share the space with two priests and a nun!

I couldn’t have been happier, actually. In my town of much, much younger people I had missed this kind of association with people who shared these kinds of interests for a long, long time. I knew they would also want “retreat” space, and would leave me alone to do any reading, drawing or hiking I wanted to do in this beautiful area. Plus ten days to have a beautiful meditative retreat! It was like ten days in the Caribbean for me!

One has to know Colorado’s beautiful mountains to see what I mean. This place is located far up a mountain creek, “off the beaten path” and at the time was a working sheep ranch, with plenty of open space, and meadows, surrounded completely by the most heavenly mountains, with the Fuji-like Mount Sopris off to the West. It is located not far from Aspen. The Chapel is simply but beautifully designed .

The monks live by the rule of St. Benedict, and keep the standard hours of rising for morning prayer at 3 a..m. Mass at approximately 8 a.m. (they work and keep silence during the morning hours) have Prayers at Noon, at 3 p.m., Sing Vespers at 6 p.m. and then they retire by 9 p.m.. In between all that praying and singing , (and I love the singing) they get a lot of various work done, both physical and mental. I was to learn a lot about all this is the following days, as part of our schedule would follow theirs.

It was wonderful to awaken on a cold, crisp November morning in the 3 a.m. dark (when I could) and hike down to the Chapel with my housemates with the stars overhead so bright it felt that one could almost reach up and touch them, a luxury most of us don’t have anymore, as surrounded as we are with ambient lighting. Even if I snuggled in bed until the five a.m. breakfast wake-up time, we still had to hike up to the Ranch House, where we would eat in the dining room, after our first Meditation Period was over.Once again, we were treated to a feast of stars which made the small hike seem all too short.

Tomorrow-Contemplative Prayer-What the Monks Call Meditation

Wendy