Week Four!

Can you believe it’s been a month?!

Thumbs Up: I’ve had lots of time to read this past week! I finished Gilead, which I’ve been working on for awhile, and re-read To the Lighthouse. I also got to see “Inside Out” yesterday, which was adorable and emotional and I totally recommend it – to anyone. Actually, thinking about it reminded me of a post I wrote two years ago, which, if you’re interested, can be found here.

Thumbs Down: It just can’t not be Charleston.

God-Sighting: These women are beautiful and full of grace. I see it in their hands. Beautiful hands that reflect so much life, so much work, so much prayer, so much love. Hands white and soft, delicately gardening herbs and decorating detailed cakes. Hands tanned and strong, feeding, brushing, pulling, holding goats. Hands smooth and fair, chopping onions and daily guiding the chalice to our lips so we may be physically and spiritually fed. Hands thin and pale, veins pumping all that life right through to the surface; thin, pale skin that feels soft and strong when it’s pressed against yours. Hands linked by one small gold band, binding all that life and love and work and prayer to each other and to God. 

<Pictures are from the countryside around the convent>

Week Three!

Thumbs Up: Laughter. I love laughing, and this week we laughed. Good, loud, deep belly laughs that make your sides hurt. Small, quiet laughs stemming from simple pleasures. Stifled giggles that break the silence even when you’re trying as hard as you can not to let them. Each instance was precious and perfect in its own right.

Ebenezer actually let me hold him!

Thumbs Down: Who would’ve thought that I needed alone time when I spend a good portion of every day doing things on my own (chores, reading, etc.) and a decent part of the day in quietness too? (Just because we’re working together or eating together, doesn’t mean we’re talking). Well, I do. I learned that the hard way this week; I need to be more intentional about my alone/quiet time to recharge.

Princess Di is all sass

God-Sighting: So much grace and mercy poured out this week. But, specifically: Kids. Real ones, not baby goats, although those are still great, as usual. :) Anyway, this week I spent a lot of time with kids and loved every minute! A little 3 year old came by with her grandma for tea one day and we became fast friends, holding goats and racing to see who could eat animal crackers and drink lemonade faster. I’m pretty sure between the two of us we drank almost the whole pitcher. She was adorable. Over the weekend we had a few 4-Hers come out to spend time with the goats they are leasing for the fair. Normally they come during the week after school, but they really wanted to come so I said that I would be with them and they could come. So I spent the majority of Saturday afternoon cleaning a barn and putting up a fence and walking goats and talking to 12 year olds. It was great.

The reasoning behind these as my God-Sighting are two-fold. First, they brought me so much joy and were such a blessing to me. But second, spending time with children affirms me in my passion for children and my goal of Children’s Librarianship. It’s nice to have a little reminder that I’m actually doing what I’m supposed to be doing, and that going to school in August so that I work with kids for the rest of my life is the right thing to do.

Other notes: Y’all, I planted three beds of squash this week. (I almost called them “flowerbeds” and then realized that didn’t make any sense, since they’re vegetables…clearly I still have more to learn about gardening). The important thing is that I planted squash and did it right! I also properly weeded a tomato bed.

Also, we went to the lake on Sunday! The convent is on the same property as a retreat center and camp, which has lots of regular camp amenities and hiking trails and a lake for kayaking, canoeing and swimming. We went and played dominoes and swam and enjoyed the sunshine and I loved it!

For all of this and more I “give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his mercy endures forever.” 

Ps. 136:1

Week Two!

Welcome Back!

Thumbs Up: Y’all, it’s still the goats. They’re just THE BEST. On Tuesday I actually had four of the kids climbing into my lap at one time. That’s right – four baby goats. IN MY LAP.

This is Eloise and her triplets: Charlotte, Elizabeth and Diana

This was taken right before the last triplet and one of their friends joined them in climbing on me! 

#squad 

Thumbs Down: My heart hurts. For lots of people and lots of reasons, some of which are very close to home and others which really aren’t related to me at all, but hurt just the same. This week I have been made even more aware of the brokenness in our world, which is making it harder for me to see the beauty right now. I also have quite a few big decisions on my plate, so Prayers are appreciated!

God-Sighting: I took a walk with one of the sisters the other day. I think we went maybe 100 yards across the parking lot and then turned around and came back. It took 30 minutes. I am not the most patient person, so this was a growing experience. But, she said to me as we walked, “I’m glad to be able to walk. My body doesn’t work as well or as fast as it used to, but it still works. And I still have my mind, so I’m grateful.” It made me pause and consider how many blessings we have, and really reminded me of the preciousness of life and health. I am starting to understand the sentiment in Gilead, that “Existence seems to me now the most remarkable thing that could ever be imagined.”

Other notes: I am thinking a lot this week about the intentionality of language. What we choose to say and how we choose to say it. The seeming flexibility or inflexibility of this phenomenon called English. I am surrounded by words here: in the daily office, in my daily journaling, in the books I’m reading, in these blog posts. I have become acutely aware of not only what I am saying, but the intention behind those words. Some people might think that prayers written down in a book aren’t as meaningful as those original to you, but this week I have been blown away at these words that were chosen for us to pray. The words in the prayers are intentional and the prayers are intentional and when you say those words intentionally as prayer, more than just reading along with the office – well, I am floored. The repetitive nature of the monastic life has also pushed me to consider the value of words so often repeated. I haven't taken an actual count, but I think we say the Gloria 40 times a day. At first I was a little bored with it, and it felt overdone and meaningless, but the longer I stay here, the more I come to appreciate the choice to say these words of praise with intention. Alongside this, the general quietness of the convent has drawn my attention to what conversations I am having, and why. Our days are not filled with conversation, but the conversations we do have are not idle, but intentional. This week, I am trying to speak, read, write and pray with intentionality as I ponder the power of chosen words.

Other than that, I am still doing 86416515 dishes a day. I also gardened and weeded this week! I don’t know what I gardened or weeded, but I did it! I am also able to read quite a bit, and for that I am very grateful! I also registered for my classes at UT Austin this morning! 

Duffy, the goat dog!

When the nuns are away, the interns will...take a nap. 

We had a quiet weekend at the convent (just five of us) while the rest of the crowd was at the Diocesan Convention. We read. And cooked. And rested. And laughed. It was good.

My prayer this week:

"Spirit Lead Me Where My Trust Is Without Borders / Let Me Walk Upon The Waters / Wherever You Would Call Me / Take Me Deeper Than My Feet Could Ever Wander / And My Faith Will Be Made Stronger / In The Presence Of My Savior"

Week One!

Can you believe it’s already been a whole week?! I arrived last Wednesday, driving up from Albany with two women in their 80’s who are “still sharp as tacks.” ß Mother Miriam told me that, and I’ll admit I was nervous, but she was right and we’re all good friends now!

Thumbs Up: THE GOATS ARE AWESOME. I LOVE THEM. There are about 20-25 goats in the regular herd, plus four bucks and about 10 little babies. The wee ones are SO cute and are really friendly, so I’ve gotten to hold and play with them.

Thumbs Down: Summer can be cold here!! It’s been in the 40’s and 50’s the past couple of days, so I’m praying for warmer weather!

God-Sighting: so many! But, one huge blessing is making new connections through mutual friends and reconnecting with others not seen in years. I am being continually reminded of how small the Anglican/Episcopalian world can be, and I love it!!

Other notes: The Sisters of St. Mary are a 150 year-old Episcopalian order. There are four sisters currently living at the convent, and I follow their daily schedule of prayer, and help our wherever I’m needed! We’ve had a lot of visitors this week, and lots of special services, so my jobs have including everything from washing a golf cart to weeding a flowerbed to doing dishes! I’ve also had some down time to read and explore a little bit of the beautiful property. I’ve included some pictures of the people (and animals!) I’m spending my time with!

Peggy (L) and Hattie (R), associates of the Sisters. They flew the same day as me and drove me to the convent! Also, we have become best friends since then.

Me with a six-day old kid

Tiani

Rye

Little Charlotte

Bonus: the retired Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife are visiting! Lord George and Lady Eileen Carey are AWESOME and I have so enjoyed spending time with them. Also, they take selfies. Apparently Eileen got George a selfie stick for Christmas!

Lastly: I do have cell service and wifi, so I’m still 100% contactable as usual. You can also follow me on twitter (@montanarindahl), where I occasionally share funny things some of the sisters say (#nunconvos). If you’re of the letter-writing inclination, I can also receive snail mail at

Montana Rindahl

St. Mary’s Convent

242 Cloister Way

Greenwich, NY, 12834

I promise to enjoy hearing from you, but not necessarily responding!

I’ll sign off with a brief prayer said at Compline every night:

"Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen."