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Pacem In Terris

Last week I went to Pacem in Terris. Such a cool experience. The cabins are outfitted perfectly for simple living that leaves you pining a little bit for modern conveniences but also supplies you with enough to feel like you can sustain yourself on very little. Which, in reality, you can.

I journaled extensively throughout my stay there.( July 9th in the afternoon through mid-morning on the 12th). It was muggy and buggy the entire stay save the first night, it cooled down quite a bit which was nice. By the third night it was so hot at night that I attempted to sleep out on the screen covered porch. That went OK until about 2 in the morning and then a thunderstorm raged through. That was great, I like the thunder and the lightning but there was no cooling effect from it unfortunately.

They supplied me with a straw hat on which to drape a full-body bug net. I tried to go outside without it. Nope. The rest of the time I wore it almost every time I ventured outside. I saw lots of wildlife and enjoyed the slow rhythm of a day with almost zero plans. I did workout in the afternoons and made time to eat with the other hermits in the evening. The staff people there were great. The other hermits were somewhat interesting and the food was incredibly welcome and delicious.

I read quite a bit and napped on occasion. The evenings were my absolute favorite. I would sit out in the screened room as the temperature dropped along with the sun. (except that last night). I would heat up water on the gas stove and make decaf coffee or tea and smoke my tobacco pipe. This would last from about 6:30 till 9:30. I brought my nexus 7 which could not connect to the internet or anything like that, but had a couple books downloaded on it so I could read at night with squinting by the candle (which I did do sometimes as well).

All in all, I would say that it hat it's intended effect. You start to notice the little things. You don't reach for the phone. The rustle of the trees or the songs of birds, the movement of the leave by little critter feet all make an impact on your senses and it's really good. I found myself moving through the cabin or the woods with a calmness and non-hurriedness. Nothing was frantic and there was no pressure felt to do this now or make that happen by the end of the day. I noticed myself being grateful for God for the things I could immediately see. Grateful for shade, for rain, for sunlight, for mornings, for evenings, for the taste of tea, how fire warms a drink and how a breeze brings refreshing.

I hope to go back again. Perhaps in the Fall when the bugs aren't awful and you can use a blanket when you sleep inside.




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