My name’s Helen and I’m 33, I’m from Liverpool.
Meditation was always a part of my faith life, but it wasn’t structured in any way. So when I was living at home, I’d get up in the morning and meditate every day, but I really felt like I was missing the community aspect. And then I found out about Bonnevaux and the WCCM. And I noticed last year that there was a retreat on with Rowan Williams, the former Archbishop of Canterbury. I am in the Anglican Communion myself and discerning for priesthood. So Rowan Williams was like the pinnacle man.
So I came down for a week to Bonnevaux and I just found it the most wholesome, uplifting and relaxing place and community that I’ve ever been to. Through there, I got talking to one of the volunteers who mentioned that I might like to come down and spend a month or two here.
So, I’m here for one month at the moment, and then I’ll be coming back for another three months, in summer.
The experience of Holy Week at Bonnevaux
This whole week has been very beautiful. Meeting the guests from all different parts of the world has been incredible. Having that community aspect is been really beautiful. But I think the highlight for me was the veneration of the cross service, yesterday on Good Friday because it was really moving. I’d never been to a service like that before. Two of the gentlemen on the retreat bore a large crucifix for the veneration.
When you get to know people, you get to know what kind of backgrounds they’ve come from, what burdens they’re carrying with them. It was really moving to see people get up and kiss the cross, to be in that kind of community and to feel the love in the room on that day. I was actually in floods of tears, and I was looking around and the priests were crying as well.
So, in a subconscious kind of way being with the same people, three times a day to meditate and emptying your mind and saying your mantra fosters a kind of unity between people. So, you feel very comfortable with even people that you might not know as well, as if you sort of know them. And all of that was leading towards this beautiful service yesterday, which took my breath away. It was one of the most beautiful services I’ve been to and then to come outside afterwards and be around all this beauty, is like a once in a lifetime opportunity. Except I keep coming back.
A Space to Unload: Why Meditation is Vital for Young People Today
We live in a world where everyone is more disconnected, especially young people, even if we have all the technology. And maybe because of that, it stimulates individualism.
So, if you’re aged between 16 and 35 you already spend six hours a day on average on your phone. We’re actually called “the digital generation” now. In one way you feel more connected than ever because you can communicate with people instantaneously but, in another way, you’re not in the same room with each other. And I think that creates a kind of toxicity and a disconnection, and you have to bring yourself out of that, to find community spaces. But it’s not always a church for some people. They might not want to go straight from wherever they’re at in their own personal lives to go into a church. That might not be the right environment for them.
So, you can go to your own place in your own mind and then still have that fostered atmosphere around you, which I think is really beautiful. And a type of meditation we do as well it’s a form of ‘kenosis’, trying to empty your ego and all the thoughts and all the troubles you take you have in your personal life for set times during the day, usually twice a day, to train yourself to try and see past that, to rid yourself of those anxieties or whatever it is that you’re carrying on your heart, I think can only be beneficial.
I think young people more than ever need that space and places like Bonnevaux who are perfect to try and foster that kind of atmosphere.
Here at Bonnevaux it feels like there’s a beautiful Christ-centeredness around it. You can feel that in the Abbey, in the community spaces, and especially for me, in the grounds and in the gardens. Because everywhere you turn, you can’t help but be reminded of Christ. You have the beauty, the wildlife and the animals, the people who work here, everyone is so kind.
And there are such good community leaders because they’ve obviously fostered good practices in themselves. And you feel comfortable around them and whatever journey you’re on, the space to be with people here. But also you can go off on your own, experience the surrounding area.
It’s sort of like going to the gym in some respects, where before you go, you do not always want to do it but when you sit down, you always feel better afterwards. And I think that’s been a good learning curve for me. Afterwards, being able to go for for walks around Bonnevaux is just so beautiful.
