Tin Can Pilgrim returns to the road again after a winter in Maine! Yes, that’s right. I took an unexpected direction and spent this past winter in Maine living in community with Dominican sisters in Otisfield.
Winter in Maine
This chilly-on-the-outside expedition was full of warmth and laughter on the inside while living with very prayerful ladies. Rather than following seventy-degree weather around the country, I experienced several seasons within winter at the convent. Snowy days with extended below-zero temperatures as well as “early spring” and “real spring” and “mud season” took on special meaning living in a former farmhouse with dirt roads. In some ways — at least until mud season — the dirt roads were easier to navigate than paved ones where I learned what frost heaves do to asphalt.
Prayer and Study
While my winterized Airstream Rangeline van chilled outdoors at the convent, I learned to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and took some online graduate philosophy and theology classes. I helped out a little around the house as well and drove the sisters to Mass and errands as needed. Christ’s sacramental presence in the chapel was palpable throughout the property. Such a gift to be welcomed into the sisters’ semi-cloistered home!
FSU
This extended retreat and quiet prayer time confirmed my next move: to be a full-time on-campus graduate student at Franciscan University of Steubenville. I’m very happy to be enrolled in the Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry program. It seems that the Lord is calling me to deepen and expand my education to serve more fully in drawing souls closer to Him. This may well be through speaking and writing as well as being present to those I encounter in daily life, whether traveling or in some other venues — however and whatever He wants! I remain a pilgrim on a journey in my “tin can” Airstream camper even if not living in it full-time.
Unfortunately, due to a recent shoulder injury I’ve had to limit camping and long-distance travel until I finish some physical therapy. So, after a winter in Maine I’m spending spring in Virginia visiting friends and family and catching up on some long-term writing projects in Virginia before I head to Steubenville for an intensive summer session and then to move into graduate student housing for the academic year.
Always a Pilgrim
Meanwhile, look for occasional posts here based on my travels past and present. The marvelous adventure of life with God continues!
Lynda, I appreciate how direct and honest this was about the past year. Having an injury force you to stop camping after so many years on the road had to be a major adjustment, but I liked the way you described using that unexpected pause to begin work on a master’s degree. The post also did a good job showing that you never completely disappeared during that time, even if life looked very different for a while. There was something encouraging about reading that after a difficult detour, you’re now getting back out there again. Wishing you safe travels and hoping the return to the road feels good after such a long break. Jim