REVERENCING
THE EARTH
By
Donald Sutherland
A
calling compared to a job
What is a calling and from whence does it come? A higher power, a pull
from within, a nudge from a friend, a parent, a teacher? Failure to
listen and respond to the call may result in a life without sparkle,
without zest, but even worse, a world robbed of an individual’s
gifts.
A few weeks ago I had the
opportunity to meet and talk with three adults who are answering their
call with every ounce of energy they can muster. All are alcoholics.
They have beaten their addictions and emerged with a burning desire
to help others do the same. Ardyth Clark, Dan Clark and Gary Corkum
bought the Notre Dame Convent at Leipzig, Sask., on Aug. 1, 2008. The
convent had closed as a boarding school for girls in 1969. Built in
1927 under the leadership of the Sisters of Notre Dame, the 20,000 square
foot structure was badly in need of repair. The convent had been stripped
of its decor, its spiritual ambiance, its stunning beauty and its original
furniture during decades of neglect. The restoration work, now almost
complete on the first two floors, is a reincarnation of the story of
the ugly duckling.
Ardyth and her partners are
in the midst of performing miracles — a gorgeous swan is rapidly
emerging. The beauty of the old wood, the 11-foot ceilings, long hallways
and hardwood floors is breathtaking. The Leipzig Serenity Retreat hosts
weddings, bed and breakfasts, and conferences, in addition to life-changing
work with those with addictions.
Ardyth, as administrator,
welcomed me and explained that they accept four clients every two weeks.
The five-week residential program has been operating at capacity for
the past two years. The curriculum is a rich mixture of lectures, films,
individual meditation, group discussion and recreation.
In Ardyth’s words,
“The three of us are alcoholics and addicts who teach the 12-step
program from our own experience. None of us are psychologists or social
workers. While living in Alberta we did similar work, with full-time
day jobs and clients living in our homes, but physical and mental exhaustion
was the eventual result. We sold our homes and undertook a thorough
search for a serene setting; we were captivated at the sight of this
massive structure nestled within six acres of tall trees, lawns, quiet
places, and benches.”
I am uplifted when I meet
people who live their calling. Some of the symptoms are: a smiling face,
joyful voice, focus, enthusiasm and a “can do” attitude.
When I meet people who have never felt or ever responded to their calling,
I notice classic job symptoms such as: low-level depression, a complaint
list, a count-down to retirement. Sometimes I hear faint glimmers of
longing for change — “I’m on my fourth cup of coffee
and I’m going to quit smoking soon.”
Reverence the earth by cutting
your chains, unleashing your talents and living your calling.
More information about Leipzig
Serenity Retreat can be found at www.leipzigserenityretreat.com
Sutherland is a professional agrologist who divides his time between Saskatoon and Winnipeg, and farms in west central Saskatchewan.
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