Gilchrest

I'm really starting to believe that places can retain residual spirituality. That would explain the weekend that J and I spent together at Gilchrest which is a retreat associated with the Fetzer Institute in Kalamazoo, MI. Fetzer is a nondenominational spiritual organization whose mission statement says;

Our mission, to foster awareness of the power of love and forgiveness in the emerging global community, rests on our conviction that efforts to address the world's critical issues must go beyond political, social, and economic strategies to their psychological and spiritual roots.

It was a serene weekend, but we didn't spend the time talking that I thought we would. It was almost as if J and I were fish swimming blissfully in tandem. We hiked the trails around the grounds checking out the shrine stations, took lots of photos, ate some good food, slept the sleep of the innocent.

My favorite memories from the weekend were holding hands while star gazing at the top of Observation Point, soaking up some sunshrine rays, firegazing in the Stoney Chapel (which will forever be in my mind the Hobbit House), and seeing the sideways leaning horse. Getting lost in the woods off-site and encountering the woman sans pants were interesting too. All in all it was a lovely weekend, not exactly what I expected, but still deeply satisfying.