Tybee - Last Day

A big storm blew in last night, bringing a clear and beautiful morning. A last walk to the beach was glorious. The sun cast bright rays of light across the tide as it rolled on to the beach.

The reading from Iona this morning echoed the Presiding Bishop's Lenten message to remember the hungry:

"Food three times a day.
Some food every third day.
We live in an unjust world.
As our bodies are nourished, nourish our anger at injustice, we pray.
Amen"

Before we drove off the island we stopped off at the Rising Tyde Community Food Pantry to drop off our checks.

A last "Tybee Time" cappuccino in Savannah seated outside amidst azaleas of all colors in their spring bloom.

I believe this Tybee Time may be the best one ever. So hard to leave.

Tybee - Day 6

The last full day on Tybee.

Awoke to the last few rain showers from the night. Overcast and just perfect for walking along the marsh that the cottage overlooks.

Then off to Skidaway Island to find another labyrinth. Located on the grounds of the Methodist Church, it was the most exquisitely designed and constructed of the labyrinths on this trip

Yesterday, listening to a recording of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, she gave the admonition that during Lent we should fast--not in the sense of giving up chocolate or other foods, rather we should be intentional about what we eat. Eat healthy. And always to be mindful of those with little or nothing to eat.

So we decided that for the rest of this trip we would try to eat what provisions we already had. Any other food purchased would "cost" us. For each dollar spent we would give double the value to feed the hungry. Those cappuccinos, the BBQ lunch, even the microwave popcorn will double in price. Before we leave we shall send checks to a local food bank.

Late in the day a return to the beach we found what we anticipated. The labyrinth had been erased by the tide.

Tybee Day 5 -Gobsmacked

Sabbath. We walked to church. The commitment to walk when posdible,continues.

All Saints Episcopal church on Tybee is charming. A small and exquisite parish; a woman serves as rector. It's a welcoming place where visitors are invited to introduce themselves and then the congregation sings a welcome.

This day a prior Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia was invited to preach. He spoke about gratitude. And how it differs from love and from being thankful. He suggested each night when we say our prayers we should remember that for which we are grateful. Good words.

In the afternoon we walked to the beach, me carrying my walking stick and a photograph. We intended to draw a labyrinth in the sand using the walking stick and following the diagram in the photograph.

It took two to create the labyrinth. One to draw and one to interpret the pattern and say where to draw next. A real labyrinth of interpretation and execution.

The surprise was that we did it! We created a labyrinth on the beach and then we walked it. And so did passers by. It was amazing. And I was Gobsmacked!

I am filled with gratitude for this labyrinth moment. And for a moment it is. The incoming tide will remove all traces of it.

Read here for more of the story:

Tybee Day 4

This day began with being awakened by sunlight streaming through the blinds.
Followed by cappuccinos (of course) and then pedicures.

In addition to an espresso shop Tybee now has Mermaid Manicures. And this being St Patrick's Day weekend, I went for green nails.

Rather than participate in the largest St Pat's parade in the country - Savannah - time was better spent on the island making cards and beach walking.

Tybee was garnished in green.

Go green. We decorate ourselves lavishly with beads and hats and shirts -all green. What if we put that energy and those resources into turning our earth green, or at least greener?

From Eucharist Prayer C: "...this fragile earth, our island home."

Perhaps my green toe nails will be a reminder to me to go green in my daily life.

Tybee Day 3

A real find on Tybee--Jitterbug -- cappuccinos and espresso!!

Another find on Tybee-- a labyrinth. Constructed using nautical rope and shells. Laid out under pine trees, the path was covered in pine needles making it a cushioned walk.

The thought for the day from the Iona Community:
"May prayer feed your actions
and may your actions feed the world.
AMEN. "

I'm thoughtful about how actions can be both words and behavior. Take action and tend to those without. AND, speak words that also tend to others. Actions can also be prayer. Tend to others through prayer.

I'm learning to be mindful. Tybee Time puts one in a mindful way.

Tybee Day 2

The reason to seek out Tybee Time is because it stops time. Almost literally. No sounds awaken one in the morning; a sense of being rested is the alarm.

And there's no where to have to be.

Eventually a drive across the causeway to Savannah for cappuccinos and labyrinth walking.

I'm fasting this Lent. Replacing candy and other sweets with fresh fruit sweets; counting Weight Watcher points which definitely restrict intake. And walking.

Another Lenten practice is to take something on. I'm taking on labyrinths. Adding labyrinths to my life; more than just walking labyrinths. I'm learning their history. I'm telling the story of the labyrinth in my parish. I'm promoting the practice of this and other area labyrinths. I'm inviting others to add labyrinths to their travels.

A late afternoon cold and windy walk on Tybee's North beach. Finding a few Olive shells and watching the tide gently roll in.

A stunning sunset closed out the day.

"We are placing our souls and our bodies under your guarding this night, O Christ. "

Now on Tybee Time

After a 6 hour drive south, I am now on Tybee Time. I love this drive because as I travel south I find Spring. With every mile the land greens up. Fruit trees are in bloom. Fields are a brilliant green. Cows are everywhere- often lolling on the green hills.

And so it is with my soul. I'm greening up.

Last year on this annual trip, I was introduced to Taize music. This morning I awake with a verse on my mind and in my soul. "Oh Lord, hear my prayer, oh Lord head my prayer, come and listen to me."

Returning to the rhythm of Iona with morning and evening prayer - this time done in the beach cottage, these words begin my day:
"This is the day God has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
We will not offer to God
offerings that cost us nothing.
Go in peace to love and serve;
We will seek peace and pursue it."

From Iona Abbey Community

Tybee Time

The word “Lent” comes from the old English, “lencten," which means “spring." In Middle English is derived the words, lenten, lente, lent; related to the Dutch, lente, the German, Lenz, also rendered  “spring.” In Old German are found the related words: lenzin, lengizin, and lenzo, which probably comes from the same root as "long" and referring to "the lengthening days,” as the earth moves from the winter solstice toward the spring equinox. 

In the Christian Church, Lent refers to the period of abstinence preparatory to the Feast of Easter. As this fast falls in the early part of the year, it became confused with the season, and gradually the word Lent, which originally meant spring, was confined to this liturgical use. The Latin name for the fast is Quadragesima derived from the Sunday which was the fortieth day before Easter.

It is my practice to spend some part of Lent each year on Tybee Island, Georgia.  Locals refer to being on Tybee Island as Tybee Time. Tybee Time reflects how life is lived on Tybee Island: slow, quiet, calm, tranquil, peaceful.  My experience is it is all of those things, and it is peace-filled.

It fits in perfectly with this time of Lent where one is to spend time in quiet reflection of one's life; in prayer, reading, meditation and solitude, practicing a measure of interior withdrawal and reflection in which to look with some honesty at the wilderness places in our hears and lives.

Tybee Time on Tybee Island just whispers Lent.

Soon I shall be on Tybee Time.