I arrived in Pittsburgh at about 8 pm. Though it was about three hours later than I had hoped to be here, I still joined up with my best friend Paula and several other OSLers. We ate at a great little restaurant on East Carson Street; the name was Pittsburgh Steak Company, I think.
Nonetheless, the drive over was great. I enjoyed two 45 minutes lectures on C.S. Lewis and then switched to some Josh Groban music. As I drove up I-77 and across I-70, the leaves dazzled in the evening sun. Compared to back home, the leaves up here have really changed. Just as I drove into Wheeling, I looked in my rearview mirror for a magnificent blazing autumn sunset. Streams of pink and lavender stretched across the sky behind me, from the mountains on my right to the mountains on my left. Stunning!
The drive into Pittsburgh was interesting. I'm definitely not a city boy. All this traffic and noise is too much to deal with. I like visiting the city from time to time, but there is no place like home! With exception of the hounds barking behind the house, I imagine that all is quiet there in Lubeck tonight.
Right now, I'm getting ready for bed. My room at St. Paul of the Cross Retreat Center and Monastery is simple: a twin bed, a little chair, a luggage rack, and a sink. How these monks live in such humble (and tiny) quarters all the time is beyond me! But what devotion they must have to lead this simple life.
In typical Roman Catholic style, there is a huge crucifix hanging across from my bed, too. It's kind of freaking me out a bit (particularly the plaque that's attached right to the front of it so that everyone can see who donated it!). I'm so glad we Protestants took Jesus off our crosses a long time ago! If I had to look at a crucifix each and every morning when I woke up, I wonder if I would forget that Jesus is actually alive? It's good to remember that he suffered and died for the sins of the world, but without the resurrection, we've only got part of the story.
Well, enough of my randomness for tonight! I must get rested up for the next few days of fellowship, learning, and worship.
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I am glad you had a safe and hopefully a relaxing trip. It was a beautiful fall day. Hope you have a wonderful week of fellowship and worship.
ReplyDeleteYou said what I was feeling, so much more elegantly. I'm afraid my blog is more stream-of-consciousness writing! And, like you, I wonder how the monks survive in such spartan quarters. I don't think I'm attached overly much to worldly things, but I do like my "stuff" around me: family pictures, mementos from various trips or special events, etc. Could I live without those things? Sure, but I don't know that I would be reminded of who I am and where I've been, without them...something to ponder...
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