Pastries & Prayer

Sorry it's taken me a while to write, internet has been sparse! Stepping off the plane in Paris was surreal. The city was just waking up when I arrived, light was beginning to come up behind old buildings and I couldn’t wait to get out and explore. The movement from Africa to the heart of Paris was strange and difficult without a bridge or space to help me transition. I knew it would be hard but I also knew that I had to be present and take in the new place now in front of me. I think that is the hardest part of traveling to many places, to allow what you have experienced to linger with you while being totally open to the experience of the new. So I took the long train ride from the airport to my hotel and just took things in and let myself settle into Paris.

I immediately fell in love with Paris. I mean, it is the city of love after all. Walking lively streets covered with falling red, brown, and yellow leaves, I felt blissfully alone but surrounded by life and energy. My first metro ride, I emerged from the station to see the Arc de Triomphe to my right and the Champes Elysees to my left. Then I walked. Down the Champes Elysees, through a park, and over the Seine river. And then there she was, nestled between fall colored trees, old buildings, a blue sky – the Eiffel Tower. Call me a hopeless romantic but it was like a dream. I wandered through streets and neighborhoods and just soaked it into my soul.

I think Paris has been given a bad rap over the years as being stuffy, cold, and unfriendly. I found the opposite to be true. So many people were helpful and friendly. Like Joel from the little wine shop who sat with me for 30 minutes to tell me all the best places to eat in the area and where I should visit and how to get there. What a gem. And don't get me started on the food! Ahhh, there was pastesserie after pastesserie with crossants, breads, quiches, and little macaroon cookies. Oh and stands with crepes everywhere. O la la!

The next day I met up with Jamie Netherland who’s in Paris helping with a PLNU study abroad program and she was my tour guide for the day. We saw so much of the city in just a few hours. Among my favorites were the Montmarte where they shot the chase scene from Amelie. At the top you can see the entire city and we took in the landscape while we listened to a man play familiar tunes on his harp. Magical. In the evening we met up with more friends – Rosalie Rhine and Tracy Le. We had amazing evening going to the ballet and to a real french dinner after with Gabby Sanchez who is also in Paris. Paris was the place to be in November apparently! It was a real treat to hang out with such fun and dear friends!



Crepes!

Monet painting that spanned a whole wall at the Musee de Orangerie in Paris.

Then it was off to Taizé. The train ride there took me across the French countryside. A complete constrast to the busy city, houses stood miles apart and with acres of farms with cows, trees, and open space. A perfect way to be ushered into a week of peace and reflection. It took me a couple days to slow down from my fast pace and settle into the simplicity and routine of Taizé life. Each day we had a time of prayer in the main church. Song chants are repeated and prayers are read in multiple languages. My small group alone was a mix of people from Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, and France! I loved hearing so many languages at prayer times and around camp at meals. I found it so beautiful that we were a collective group of people, disconnected from the outside, but all walking toward God, creator of all people and all together for a week of community.

Train ride to Taizé

Taizé is this open space that comes alive with its people and the movement of God among them. I got used to the rhythm of life. Prayer, work, time in community. Routine has been redeemed in many ways for me this week. My resistance to schedule and routine melted into peaceful gratitude for set quiet moments built into the day. I think I'll find myself back to Taizé some day, its one of those places that calls you back to that open space where you can just be. My soul feels refreshed and I am sure I'll continue to discover the significance of this week as my trip unfolds. 

St. Francis stained glass at Taizé

Now I jump back into travel and movement. Next stop Florence, Italy! Buon giorno pizza, gelato, and pasta! I thought I'd share also my prayer for myself right now: Find the good in today. Be grateful, this moment is a gift. Listen and learn.