Day 8 – Sydney — Blessings, Meetings and Exploring Spirit
We all seem to fan out in different directions this morning. Cleora and Mario are doing MSIA Services. I go with John to the new Sydney Insight office for an office blessing, and Vincent meets with the Australian Corporate Board. Then we’re back to the hotel for John to talk with the Reps and volunteers, a review session for initiators and ordainers and cap the day with John facilitating Exploring Spirit in Your Everyday Life. What a whirlwind of a day, and the Traveler sails through it all, taking the time to put a hand on one person’s shoulder, a quick chat with someone else, and sharing with many throughout the day.
Day 9 – Sydney – Claiming Our Spiritual Heritage Workshop
MC, Bob Zapf, begins this powerful two day workshop welcoming the group who have gathered from all over Australia, our single MSIA minister from Thailand, Brian Cutshall, and from America too, like Luciana Morresi and Ezra Mack. Then Vincent Dupont and myself are invited to take the stage and start our inner journeying. John Morton comes to be with our group and takes sharing. Throughout the weekend we get to see Moments of Peace from previous PAT IV’s and V’s – these were wonderful trainings that took large groups sponsored by PTS (Peace Theological Seminary) to visit Israel and Egypt with John-Roger and John Morton. Watching these video moments, I found myself once again transported to places such as Luxor and Denderah in Egypt, and the sea of Galilee and Jerusalem in Israel. How sweet and powerful those trips were! And how young we all look in those videos!
Day 10 – Sydney – Claiming Our Spiritual Heritage Workshop – Discourse Subscriber Seminar
Vincent begins this day with a lecturette that deepens our understanding of what it is to let go of the past, then we go into high gear. The Traveler, John Morton, comes again to be with us and take sharing. These sharing periods are so precious – we all learn by listening – amazing how what is said for one fits all of us. That’s the grace of the Traveler being amongst us. We dine for lunch al fresco along side the lagoon and the waterfall. We catch up with friends, and do our best to refrain from eating more than a bite of the strawberry or chocolate mousse. The assisting team with Chris Haupt as Team Captain kept us on track with their silent service. Then it’s night and time for the seminar. The Australian MSIA choir does it again. This time they bring their original song – Thank Heaven for the Traveler – to the tune of “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” (just hear Maurice Chevalier singing away in Gigi the turn of the century movie with Leslie Caron and Louis Jordan). Our hearts are touched and John Morton steps up leading us into a meditation that had me and others around me all but falling out of our chairs with the energy. When the seminar is done, we go for a little dinner overlooking the Sydney Harbor. This harbor, to me, is one of the most beautiful harbors in the world. With the Sydney Opera House gently lit, the sparkling lights around the harbor glistening on the water, the almost-full-moon positioned perfectly above the Opera House, and the ferries moving back and forth, and the temperature is balmy with a gentle breeze. What a beautiful way to end this day.
Day 11 – Sydney – Ministers and Initiates Seminar with the Traveler
The Traveler’s visit to Sydney this year culminates this morning as he talks and takes questions from the MSIA Ministers and Initiates that have gathered to be with him. There is information and inspiration that keeps pouring out to us from John, and I just keep hearing “Where two or more are gathered, there I am.” Two hours seems to disappear as John talks with us. Then we’re all hugging and packing up. Hard to believe the events are done for another year here in Australia. But we know the year will go quickly, and we’ll be back again.
John Morton leaves this night for Thailand. He is traveling to Phuket — one of the areas hit by the tsunami. Light be with him and all there. He will do a little reconnaissance for the 2006 PTS trip to Thailand too. Our lone MSIA minister in Thailand, Brian Cutshall, is helping John on this scouting and ministerial mission. We travel with him in our hearts and Spirit. (To read an interview with John Morton about this trip, Click here)
Day 12 – Sydney – Heading back to the United States
Our flight is not until 2:00 p.m. so Chris Haupt and Bob Zapf gamely pick up Cleora and me at 6:30 a.m. for a walk that takes us back to the days when we would visit and do services at Margaret and Murray Strudwick’s. We walk out to the lighthouse, scrambling down the cliff to walk out by the lighthouse and watch the ferries pass near by. It is a glorious morning, with sun, breeze and a slight ocean spray. Then as a reward for doing our exercise we are taken to an outdoor cafe under the harbor bridge overlooking the harbor across from the Opera House. I don’t think I’ve ever seen the Opera house from this angle, and it is more beautiful from here. The coffee is some of the best I’ve had in Sydney — my long black is strong and definitely opens my eyes, plus we get to taste some exotic creations such as sour cherry toast, and ricotta cheese and corn pancakes with real maple syrup. Then it’s back to the hotel to load up the luggage and join Vincent for the ride to the airport and the flight home. Mario is staying a few more days to visit with relatives in Australia.
Thank you to each of our Australian friends who gave of themselves selflessly in many, many ways to make this trip and all the events as beautiful and loving as they were. Thank you for extending yourselves so warmly to each of us staff and the Traveler. You’re embrace is healing and joy-filled and keeps us coming back for more.
Click here to read Days 1 through 7 of the MSIA Staff Trip to Australia with John Morton
