A wedding and a honeymoon behind me (both wonderful, inspiring, full of joy and fun), I am heading south again to Ngatiawa for two final weeks of retreat – this time on my own, and perhaps fulfilling something of my original intention for this sabbatical.
Lois has set off for three weeks in India – planned before we decided to get married, and while this may not be a typical start to married life, we seemed to abandon conventionality some time ago. We have been so blessed to have had nearly eight weeks together to get to know each other, enjoy so much of the beauty of New Zealand, relax with friends across the country, plan a wedding, and start our married life. It is a privilege, too, to have time – initially together, and now both of us alone, to reflect and be still.
Psalm 12, which I read yesterday, captures this so well:
Speak to us out of your silence, O God,
our minds purged of gossip and chatter.
For you are the fountain of all that is true,
a wellspring deep that never fails.
As our train slowly climbs beside the mighty Whakanui river, up to the central volcanic plateau of the North Island, our carriage is buzzing with life: a Kiwi mother and daughter entertaining the whole carriage with clips of songs and raucous laughter as they play an extended game of monopoly; tourists from USA, South Africa, China and elsewhere feasting, like me, on the awesome scenery surrounding us; two ladies across the aisle enjoying a quieter companionship; and a staggered flow of people wandering back and forth to the café car behind, or the open viewing car up front. I, meanwhile, have enjoyed some quiet solitude, drinking in the countryside as I sip my glass of Brancott Estate Chardonnay.
This sabbatical, too, has been full of life – an incredible mix of chatter, companionship, and silence. I have enjoyed the warm welcome of Lois’ family – the feelings of acceptance and love; and the joy and laughter of being with friends, old and new – our Servants’ friends up and down New Zealand, the vibrant community at Ngatiawa, and Lois’ many friends – all so pleased about our marriage.
We have just climbed the Rarimu Spiral – an amazing engineering feat the railway to climb the steep gradient up to the central plateau. Outside our carriage the mighty rimu, totara and kahikatea trees reach skywards above the graceful black and silver tree ferns in the native rain forests that give this land so much of its beauty. To the east, the majestic peaks of Tongariro, Ngauruhoe and Ruapehu disappear in the clouds. I have been privileged to see the wonder of all three volcanic peaks several times on our car journeys south and north between Auckland and Ngatiawa. There is so much beauty in this country, and I feel so privileged to have had this time to savour so much of it.
So now, as I continue my journey south, I shall gaze in renewed wonder on this incredible pinnacle of creation, savour another glass of wine, and look forward in anticipation to the pending reunion with my Ngatiawa friends and time to be at home with the Holy One in this wonderful place of peace.