Dear Come Before Winter Pilgrim,

There are times in our lives where we can say, with the poet Billy Collins, "All I wanted was to be a pea of being inside the green pod of time." Our time together made me want time to stand still and unfold into more time together. More harp and violin; more times of reflecting on Lectio and poems, and perhaps our song, Come Before Winter would now be committed to our memory.

I wanted to write you early in your transition back home and tell you that Pam Burton and I created this page where each of you could write your one take-away, and perhaps an insight that you're going to use to shape your next steps. I think it would be so good if you'd take the time to do that here. This way, we could all trace how the Spirit moved among us and hovered in us and around us in these beautiful days of fall. This page is not public and only the Come Before Winter pilgrims can have access to it--and only through this link. Save the link, so you'll come back and see what others have posted.

I'm reminded of the O'Donahue poem A New Beginning, where he says, "Be Excessively Gentle with yourself." I think these are such good, good words for us as we adjust and re-enter from a time that was slow, to a time that is our lives. I also want you to have a link to Theilard de Chardin's Patient Trust which I read in the closing. The words are so important to remember.

So, when you're ready, leave a comment and share as a witness what happened in your beloved hearts on Come Before Winter.

Finally, please keep up with me at pottersinn.substack.com and subscribe. You'll be notified when I update and there's a way for you to help support my poetic endeavors, if you'd like. I'm posting the poem that I wrote about our retreat, along with some words on the value of a retreat on the Substack and you can read it there.

Every blessing this fall and winter!

Steve