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Majestic Sunrises & A New Day at The Mountain
Hurricane Helene came, created a path of destruction, and then was gone. Two weeks later, two dozen of us UUs from Brevard gathered at our Beloved Mountain for our annual retreat. Many of us were touched deeply by the beauty of two majestic sunrises, new life and new hope in the mountains of western NC. Nature’s paradise had sustained considerable damage, but The Mountain Retreat was already up-and-running!
It was exciting to see all the major improvements since last year, all made possible by contributors like you to the current Roots and Wings Capital Campaign. I was delighted to hear of many of these projects from the new Director of Facilities, Ted Rosensweig. The refacing of the Lodge, which included replacing the old and deteriorating balcony rails and steps was a major one for me as well as for my partner, Carol Flake. It was from this new railing outside of our room that we were able to get a first glimpse of a new day dawning.
A longtime member of UU, Carol first visited The Mountain back in 1987 for a leadership conference. This is the fifth time that I have returned to The Mountain, each time more rewarding and soul-satisfying than the previous. My first was in 1995 when Carol organized a reunion of graduates of Jean Houston’s Cultivation of Human Capacities Program, 1982-85.
Carol and I met again and fell in love during the pandemic and now the mountains of NC are my new home, living a fully committed life in love, joy and new meaning with Carol.
Our retreat theme this year was “Deep Listening” as applied to our interactions and relationships with others. Deep listening is also a means of communing with awe-inspiring Nature and the knowing that we are one. It was helpful to understand anew also, that each of us has a “small voice” within that serves as both an anchor and a guide. It tunes us in to our authentic and loving self. The old growth forest of oak trees and many beautiful vistas provide a perfect place for this deep listening.
I ask each of you to tune into “your own inner voice” regarding your contribution to the Roots and Wings Campaign to continue the renovations and improvements that we saw with our own eyes. The spirit and heart of The Mountain, its legacy and tradition, through your generosity, will be available to people of all ages for decades to come. Any contribution, great or small, will be well used and greatly appreciated!
Blessings all,
Dan Klem
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