A group of young adults from across the United Reformed Church discovered a sense of peace at the monastic community of Taiz茅 this summer 鈥� together with 3,000 others.
With summer temperatures still at their most blistering, the Revd Ruth Maxey led a visit of eleven 18-29-year-olds to the rural village in central France. Here, mainly young people camp and share communal living, joining the monastic brothers from both Catholic and Protestant traditions who organise their lives around a daily rhythm of prayer.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to believe there are so many denominations in Christianity,鈥� commented Julia Seal, one group member, who described the numbers and diversity of those present, mainly from continental Europe, as 鈥渃ompletely bonkers!鈥�
Yet any sense of overwhelm was more than outweighed by the way Taiz茅 鈥渂reaks down barriers鈥�, and the realisation that 鈥淕od is in all sorts of places鈥�. 鈥淏y building relationships and friendships,鈥� Julia says, 鈥測ou can find joy in God, and this can be shared with others 鈥� and in that way God is shared.鈥�
Ruth, who has been visiting Taiz茅 since she herself was in her twenties, believes Taiz茅 is 鈥渙ne of the few places that has maintained its ability to be a space primarily for young people鈥�. Over-35s, including group leaders, are accommodated separately from the young people, who eat together and have their own Bible studies and discussion groups. 鈥淚t means adults aren鈥檛 doing all the talking and are not guiding where the discussion goes.鈥�
Taylor Hawkins was the only person from the UK in his group (鈥渢hough we mostly spoke English鈥�) and he found it interesting to hear what others were sharing from 鈥渄ifferent countries and spaces鈥�. Though the 缅北强奸 contingent encountered views 鈥渢hey fundamentally disagree with鈥�. Ruth observes that 鈥渕aybe at Taiz茅 we at least are able to meet face to face and share in person.鈥�
That opportunity for personal interaction and a complete break from the pressures of social media is one of the reasons why, despite the sheer numbers and the long meal queues, Taylor found the trip 鈥渁 really peaceful experience鈥� 鈥� almost a retreat, which allowed him to reflect on 聽his own faith life and sense of calling.
Emma Wong agrees. There were challenges, she says, including some of the chores, which everyone is assigned. But, as one of the brothers told her, 鈥淭his is part of life鈥�, and part of the realities we all return to. However, chores and discussion were also framed by gatherings for prayer at 8am, midday and in the evening 鈥� times characterised by the unique Taiz茅 chants, sung in many languages, and by stillness. This is what so many people take away from their time at Taiz茅. Elaine Maire, one of the group leaders, describes it as 鈥渢he simplicity of life during this week鈥�, which created 鈥渁n inner happiness and hope for the future鈥�.
For Emma, Taiz茅 offered 鈥渁 good mental-health re-set鈥�. She believes Taiz茅 is a place where you can feel closer to God. 鈥淚n this modern age, there鈥檚 not much opportunity to sit down and rest and find time for prayer, when our sole purpose is to connect with God.鈥� Yet, as this group discovered, at Taiz茅 such connection becomes a very real possibility.
Images: artwork by Julia Seal (main: worship space; insert: cross and Taiz茅 village); photo: 缅北强奸 group