As I write I am watching the sun rise over the hills surrounding this french community (quite a feat for someone not normally a morning person!) I am coming to the end of a week at Taize.
For those who don’t know, Taize is a religious community in France, slightly north of Leon. It was started in the 1940’s by Brother Roger and continues today as a place of pilgrimage and retreat, especially for young people, served by a community of Brothers. Taize is particularly well known for its chants – simple short verses of music sung repeatedly, with words like a prayer in many different languages.
That’s a snapshot overview, and about as much as I knew before I arrived.
What can I say about my week at Taize? On practical matters, the beds in the dorms were good (can’t speak for those camping) and the showers were decent (but good idea to get to them soon after they’re cleaned!) The food was pretty simple, and for those with dietary requirements (like me) sometimes disappointing. The benches for sitting on became uncomfortable very quickly, and the floor in the church took some getting used to.
But you don’t go to Taize for the food. And you don’t go for luxuries – it’s not a hotel or a summer holiday! It’s a place to seek God, a place to serve together, a place to worship.
Speaking of worship, visitors are asked to enter and leave in silence, creating a prayerful atmosphere. Coming from an English church, it was refreshing to be able to sit in quietness and still my mind. And the singing – wow! Taize gathers together people from across the world. As a way of honouring the cultures, there are chants in most languages. They are short enough and simple enough to be picked up by everyone. And I found myself singing in English, French, German, Spanish, Polish, Russian and some I couldn’t identify. Joining in with over a thousand voices singing the same words over and over was quite an experience. Someone explained that by singing the chant repeatedly, we are encouraged to go deeper rather than go on, which goes against what we are used to. There were translations written underneath each chant and while singing we could reflect on the short statements, meditating on the words and allowing the message to penetrate deep into heart and mind. And occasionally, to stop and listen to the other voices, basking in the harmonies and marvelling at the beauty of the sound. A friend I met there described it as being held by a warm embrace. I think that is a good description of an experience I’ve not found anywhere else.
Each morning one of the Brothers taught on a passage from the bible before sending us off in small groups to continue the discussion. We listened to Brother Paolo share his wisdom, balancing historical fact and biblical context with modern day stories and application. His sense of humour made it fun and drew me in, even making the benches bearable. He gave us some little nuggets that resonated with me (and may find their way into future posts!) and allowed us to look at the passage with a fresh perspective in our groups.
I was truly blessed with the small group. There were 4 of us from across England who hadn’t been before, 1 from Germany who had been once before and 2 from France who were seasoned veterans of Taize, calling it the ‘best place on earth!’ Using Brother Paulo’s talk and our own experiences, we had some brilliant conversations, and in a way only possible in such circumstances, found ourselves trusting each other quickly. I really hope to stay in touch with the very special people from that group.
We were also given the opportunity to meet with the Prior, Brother Matthew. After Evening Prayers we were taken to the garden in the Brothers side of the compound. Brother Matthew joined us and pointed out the moon just beginning to rise over the distant hills. We then sat in silence and watched the moon rise. It was a reminder to me to enjoy the simple joys and keep watching for beauty.
For me, Taize was a spiritual realignment. The experiences and busyness of the last year had left me weary, and serving others in the way I have been had left my own relationship with God a little neglected. Taize was a chance to stop and re-evaluate, a chance to receive the love and friendship of others, and a chance to turn back to the right track, putting God first. The whole experience was a reminder to look at the bigger picture. The food wasn’t great, but at least I had something to eat. The seats were uncomfortable, but at least I had the time and freedom to sit. Sometimes the storms in life threaten to overwhelm, causing us to take our eyes off of Jesus and start to drown. This week was a nudge to look again, to focus on the blessings rather than the storm.(I know that’s easier said than done, but it’s good to be reminded that we have a choice about how we view things)
They say no one leaves Taize unchanged. I can tell you from what I discovered there, that’s true. But don’t take my word for it, make the journey and experience it for yourself.
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