It is Tuesday, and I am sitting on the floor of the church in the Taizé community, huddled around an outlet with James and Kat. The choir is practicing across the room; some young people are in small groups; others are in the church, trying – unsuccessfully – to beat the 100-degree heat; and still others are doing who knows what with new friends from all over the world. While riding the train from Paris on Sunday, I texted the group to ask for volunteers to write a reflection for each day of our time in Taizé. Here is some of what they said:
Sunday
Upon our arrival in Paris, we immediately adopted the French culture and prepared a mindset for Taizé. One train and a bus ride away, we arrived in Taizé full of anticipation and excitement. We spent the first few hours familiarizing ourselves, settling in, and meeting new people before going into our first worship. We all had a phenomenal first experience at the church, with new knowledge and curiosity.
Monday
It was so fulfilling to experience the village and everything that comes with it. Being able to participate in the choir for the evening prayer service and learn new songs in new languages I had never heard before is such a cool experience. I also met a bunch of new faces in my small group from countries such as Sweden, Cambodia, and Germany. It is so cool that the village is run on pilgrims just like us who are coming to learn more about themselves and who want to experience Christ in a new and different way.
The community is bound together by the Holy Spirit. I have met friends from the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, and even a Midwestern American. In our morning Bible study, new perspectives are provided through friends from other countries. We are all here by the Holy Spirit. Thanks be to God.
Tuesday
The first few days in Taizé were exactly what I expected. The work is hard but fulfilling for the community, and the food is minimal but enough to get you by. I came on my own for personal reasons, seeking answers to a personal matter. I was able to find what I needed with the help and support of my peers. As I look back, this journey will mean a lot to me and something I will never forget.
Wednesday
Taizé is full of wonder and hope. Today in Taizé, I especially enjoyed being in choir, with its ever-changing variety of music: French, Polish, German, Arabic, Spanish, Latin, etc. It is unlike anything else I’ve experienced, stretching between countries and continents while reaching them as easily as it is for my hand to flip the page to the next song. I went to see the creek and the cows, which were very serene, and it was lovely to find silence for a moment, but also to come back to Taizé’s constant buzz of energy in the center, where people gather for meals. By the end of the night, after evening worship, there was a much later informal song group where people gathered around in the church at night and sang in a circle, and it was a really magical way to end the night with a sense of quiet belonging and knowing even between people with whom I hadn’t exchanged names.
***
Today is Thursday. In a moment, some of us will leave for a cultural exchange (read: we will cheer on the riders in the Tour de France) while others will remain and complete afternoon tasks. When you read this, we will likely be in evening worship in a strange and beautiful space illuminated by candles, contributing our voices to the singing, and listening together for God’s voice in the silence.
Thank you for your ongoing prayers. God is doing amazing things with the young people of this church.