A Musing Amma
Retreating to a spiritual center is a life-giving enterprise for anyone who needs to take a deep breath, to be still or to “come apart and rest for awhile,” as Jesus was wont to do. I traveled with a group that meets monthly to the Immaculate Heart Center in Santa Barbara for three days this past week, and was given fresh breath, still waters and deep rest. Beyond those treasures, however, was another lesson in the beauty of holiness and the holiness of beauty.
The Center, long the home of a community committed to a life of prayer and action, began as part of the Immaculate Heart of Mary religious order in Los Angeles, which in 1970 was granted dispensation of their vows. In that year, 315 of the 350 members left to become an independent secular order, maintaining their retreat center and their teaching mission to which they felt called. Although the order calls itself “secular,” the residents who remain maintain the holy calling which has always been theirs, that of welcoming those who are seeking for a place to listen for the movement of the Spirit in their own lives, and to praying for the wounds of the broken world that God loves. It is done in beauty. The site itself is located on 27 acres in the Santa Barbara hills that have a distant view of the Pacific Ocean. The land is fertile; fruit trees are loaded with tangerines and plums. In February camellias, birds of paradise, calla lilies and daffodils are all in bloom. The giant, ancient eucalyptus presides over a green lawn, and a bosque of oaks covers the path toward the stone and earthen labyrinth across the way. It is easy and inviting to walk in beauty, day or night, rain or shine. How whole, holy, it was to recite from Psalm 148: “Give praise sun and moon/ give praise you shining stars!… Give praise to the Beloved, all the earth…all mountains and hills, all trees and all minerals…” Beautiful!
The beauty is maintained in the residence center itself, stone stairways, wood floors, windows through which sunlight pours, art work from Corita,
a member of IHC who gave generously of her spirit and work in support of the order. The food made by the lovely Theresa is whole grained, whole textured, much of it grown on the grounds of the center-nutrituous, aromatic and satisfying. Signs inviting guests to a gentle quiet at the entrances welcome all in to this beauty in holiness. As one who was raised in a prosaic and plain tradition of faithfulness, I was again overpowered almost by the ways in which beauty called me into the Presence of the Mystery: “One thing I asked of the Lord…to behold the beauty of God…” (Psalm 27:4)
Perhaps the most eloquent expression of beauty and holiness together was the demeanor and presence of two elderly members of the order, who live in the community. Joanna and Pauline greet guests, convene centering prayer service twice a day, offer spiritual direction, serve dessert and coffee to guests at dinner with grace and good humor. They have been with the order since they were novices in this house. Watching Joanna gather camellias from the garden, and then create elegant centerpieces that are just the right height for table conversation is as holy as watching a master artist, doing what she loves best. She finishes, she turns, smiles and says, “This is the fun part of my job!” Wholly, holy and beautiful!
I come home having beheld the beauty of God; I see that newer translations of the Psalms are partial to the phrase, “splendor” as a substitute for “beauty.” But I have seen beauty–in ancient oaks in white puffy clouds, following massive thundering ones; in tender cherry blossoms; in homemade granola; in deft and colorful serigraphs; and in faithful ones walking gently through the house on their appointed rounds. All of it points me to God.
I return home, and see once again that there is beauty all around me in an old dog, a casual garden, a homemade valentine, a gift that says, “My heart is full.” I am grateful. I am prompted again to praise the beauty of the Beloved One!
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