Cottage Life and the Spiritual Life - New Evangelizers

 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 RSVCE

Three years ago, my brother and his wife purchased a lakefront cottage located in the picturesque community of Prince Edward County in Eastern Ontario. From the porch of his cottage one would be a ‘stone’s kick’ from the lake. My brother has invited me numerous times to the cottage and I never miss an opportunity to spend time with him, his wife and their young son, Matteo. There is also someone else I like to spend time with when I am at the cottage – God.

In fact, God has become the central theme of every visit to my brother’s cottage – not to take away from the warmth and love of sharing time with my brother and his family. It is through my deepening spiritual life that I able to enjoy and strengthen my relationship with my brother and his young family.

Many go to the cottage to ‘get away from it all’. Unfortunately, for many, it includes placing their spiritual life on hold while they physically and psychologically recharge their batteries. They may argue that by resting and focusing on themselves, they are better equipped to deepen their spiritual lives when they get back to the hustle and bustle of the city. Though I can see the logic in it, I can also see the failure in it. When one places God and the spiritual life aside and focuses on oneself exclusively, one is really saying, I come first, and God comes second. I like to place God first to my distant second.

I like to get up early in the morning, sit on the porch and take in the cool morning air. The fresh aroma of the lake and surrounding plant life reminds me of God’s creation – the beauty and simplicity and how it all fits together in one on-going story repeated daily for our enjoyment. While I slowly take in this scene, I like to start my morning prayers with the Liturgy of the Hours. How beautiful the morning prayers dovetail into the natural art the surrounds me. The sights and sounds of the lake and its surroundings become part of the words of my morning prayers that I take deep into my heart. A sense of grounding always accompanies my morning prayers. The prayers and psalms seem to come alive. It is as if God were speaking to me through his creation. Perhaps ‘seems’ is a weak word. Perhaps I should use, “God speaks to me…..”

Following my morning prayers my brother joins me on the porch with a freshly brewed hot cup of coffee. We both sit there quietly and take in the lake. At times we observe early morning boaters and walkers and the occasional courageous swimmers in the cool morning air. Though each has his or her own reason for doing what they do that early in the morning, they seem not to know they in fact are part of the same play from my point of view. They are one in God’s creation. Each doing their part in this symphony of life. Though separate, they are all dancing to the same music. My brother and I sitting on the porch are also part of this play. Our role is simply sitting, observing and appreciating all that God has placed before us on this natural canvas.

As the day progresses and we join in the activities we have been observing, I particularly enjoy watching Matteo playing with the water, sand, sticks and anything else he can find along the shore. He does not need a computer or other electronic toy to indulge his senses. He has all that he needs to enjoy right in front of him. In fact, we all do to. Though at times I succumb to the lure of my cell-phone, I do it with the full knowledge that it is not required but through my weakness I surrender to this vice in such a pristine place. That reminds me….I need to get to confession!

Inevitably the day starts to come to a close. The pace of the activities around the lake slow down. The breach is almost empty and the sun is starting its slow decline into the horizon. It is at these times that I like to take out my Rosary beads and recite the Holy Rosary…peacefully, with deep gratitude. I thank God for allowing me to share in his creation and enjoying the company of my brother and his family and those souls we met throughout the day that touched our lives in one form or another unbeknownst to them…and at times unbeknownst to us.

My brother likes to end the day by lighting a fire. I must admit, he is getting very good at making a fire. He has one rule. It is his fire so don’t mess with it. My brother takes pride in making a good fire and enjoys sharing it with us and his neighbors. What may mistakenly come across as an ego trip, it is in reality my brother giving us a gift of fire and the comfort it brings us all as we sit around his fire and snack, imbibe, laugh, tell stories or sit quietly reflecting on life. It brings us all closer together and there I believe I find the true nature of my brother’s desire to give us the best fire one can give. It is his gift to us through the eyes of God – having us all together in ancient harmony with nature – God’s creation. It is a humble gift that my brother provides. It is not made of gold nor is it expensive. It is simple yet profound for it wraps us all up in friendship, love and the peace of God.

As the last embers flicker we all make our way back to our cottages, I get ready for bed and lay down my body and slowly lull myself into a restful sleep… reciting the Lord’s Prayer,” Our Father who art in…..”
Copyright 2015, Luciano Corbo

Luciano Corbo

Luciano Corbo holds a Master of Arts - Integrated Studies from Athabasca University. His major interests are Culture, Work, Organizations and Leadership, within a context of Catholic Social Teaching Principles. He writes from Canada.