Life can't come and rest easy on your shoulders unless you are still enough to give it a place to land.

The Monastery of The Holy Spirit

The Monastery of The Holy Spirit is in Conyers GA. is about 35 minutes from where I live. It is one of my favorite places. I started going here about 2 years ago and return often to take in the tranquility and peace and comfort that I receive every time I visit.

This beautiful church was built by the Monks that lived here. The monastery was founded in 1944. The massive walls, columns and structure were created one wheel barrow of concrete at the time.

There is a lot that can be said about the abundance of nature that surrounds the Monastery, the tranquil moments I have spent by the lake watching the wild life and letting my spirit mingle with the green foliage that displays itself so proudly. But the treasure lies within each encounter I have had with  the Monks who live here. The Trappist Monks have a heart and a love that drifts from within them  right into your being and you take it with you when you go.

They have a wonderful book and gift store where you can purchase items made by the Monks such as fudge, fruit preserves, honey, coffee, fresh breads and southern fruit cake to name only a few. Carl is a Lay Cistersian who works at the store, his spirit displays a love for others that I could only hope to achieve in my own life. Carl also is an author of 12 books and  teaches and speaks at retreats, churches, monasteries and seminars and has a wonderful Blog.  http://www.carlmccolman.com/
The book and gift stores are a wonderful place to make gift purchases and at the same time support this beautiful Monastery. I buy most of my books here, there are many that will inspire you and feed your soul.
Take some time to view the Bonsai trees that are lovingly cared for by the Monks and to tour the heritage center that tells the history of the Monastery and the Monks who live there.

Most important of all, take a moment to sit in the quiet Holiness of this church. Lift up your heart to God, let all your cares drift away and let go of the things of this world and and just be in His presence.

They also have retreats where you can take some time away to reflect, meditate, heal, pray, and breath deeply.

My prayers go up daily for this beautiful place and the people who live and work  here.

To all my friends in Georgia I hope you will visit and it will become one of your favorite places as well.

http://www.trappist.net/

Peace and Grace,
COHolley

Holding on to You

I loved you long before I met you.
I held you in my  dreams.
I walked down long alleys,
  dark places,
    cold walls,
      waded through steep streams.

Then you appeared before me
  and I began to see
    far beyond the dreams I had.
I held on to you and me.

I have you in my memory
  years after you are gone.
I close my eyes and I see you.
  Every part of you
    I've ever known.

I want to send a note to you
  on the string of a balloon
    or the beak of a bird
      or and envelope with perfume.
A note that says ~ I still love you. ~
  My heart longs to let you know.
    To tell you, though you walked away,
     I never let you go.

I loved you before I knew you.
I love you long after you are gone.
I will love you until I float to the sky.
I will kiss you goodbye on my way home.

by COHolley

Catchers Mitts

It is true that some people run through this world with a catchers mitt on both hands. I don't believe we were called to live our lives grabbing more than we need and sometimes even more than we want. Perhaps we should consider the possibility that we are not here for ourselves but for others.