Time is flying. I've already been here in Scotland for 3 weeks. This is what i've been up to, not that its much of consequence, therefore i'll keep it brief.
Upon the great recommendation of Wesley, Helen, Kurt Simonson and many others, I took up residence at the Manor House of the L'Abri Fellowship for a weeks time. In their own way, each of them have had a some kind of challenging and consequent growing experience while attending L'Abri. So naturally I felt obliged to see what it is about l'abri that can be so much to so many. I soon found that one week was a highly insufficient duration in which to understand the true nature and workings of L'Abri. A retreat from communication and technology, a place of intentional solitude yet of great community, a space to question yourself and God, and to hopefully gain answers through helpful wise counsel; all are descriptors of L'abri.
In order for you to obtain a better idea of what L'Abri is, let me plot out a normal day in the life of a L'Abri student. This is the general schedule for each day though certain activities will change on the daily.
07:30- wake
08:00- breakfast (everyone is expected to be present)
09:10- prayer in the chapel (optional of course)
10:00-14:00 - everyone must do one of these two options given below:
Chores: work doing chores around the house (vacuuming/food prep/cleaning the kitchen/chopping wood/folding clean laundry/flattening the pitch, etc.)
OR
Study: reading books, listening to lectures recorded from past speakers at l'abri, or take walks when you can't read any more, ha.
11:30- tea break
13:00- lunch. Every lunch the main group is broken into 3 groups of ten where we eat together and discuss a question that at least one person in the group would like to discuss. each group lunch is facilitated and mediated by someone who works at L'abri.
14:00-18:30- work and study sessions again. you must do which ever activity, work or study, in which you didn't participate in earlier. So if you did chores in the AM, you will be studying in the PM.
14:30- tea break
18:30- dinner
>19:00- a lecture done by a L'abri worker, Wednesday movie night, or free time.
repeat
it takes some time to adapt to the simple yet rigorous lifestyle of L'abri, which i feel I didin't have time to fully grasp. Although I was there for only a short time, i did appreciate the wonderful sense of community i experienced. All meals together, chores together, tea time together, sleeping in the same room with ten other guys. Also the diversity of people brought together by a desire to figure life out, with all its complications, is something was really intriguing. It seemed to narrow the field of person staying there to those who were somewhat humbled and searching for answers outside of themselves.
Mind you L'Abri is based in christian theology. Since this is public knowledge, a lot of the students that choose to take up residence at there are christians questioning some aspect of their faith, although i cannot even try to lump everyone who attends into groups, especially after only one week.
All in all I enjoyed my time there, though i wish i could have spent another week there to get to know the people there better. I'm also very excited to be shifting locations soon to Lille, France.
be on the look out for some photos about L'abri to pop up soon.
