Retreat in the Heart of Darjeeling

Following Summit University in Finland, I had the gift of returning for a day to the town where I lived forty years ago–Hameenlinna.

Sometimes people carry with them memories of experiences they had and concepts of how things were that are outworn or inaccurate in the light of growth, maturity, and looking at things with a new perspective. I recommend visiting places of the past when possible and offering prayers with the violet flame of God’s light to transform those records of the past into strength of character in the present.

That is how it was for me, seeing the town with fresh eyes.

The familiar scenes from my two years as a kindergarten teacher there struck me with beauty and familiarity. There was no doubt a reason that God placed me so long ago in a country that represents for me a quiet example of freedom and courage.

Let’s see, now where was that apartment where I used to live?

Oh yes, this is it!

Of course, everything we do in life leaves a record. When we visited the castle, I wondered with tongue in cheek, “Do we have any records here???” Hmmm.

Hameenlinna is the birthplace of Jean Sibelius, composer of “Finlandia,” and it is where he went to school in his early years. Just outside of Hameenlinna is Aulanko, which must have been one the natural places of inspiration for the boy…and for us.