A Place of Refuge

Last week I returned to Centering Space for a few days of renewal, as I have done many times over the last few years. I came because I longed for the company of people of hope, for walks along the shore of Lake Erie, for an in-person Reflective Prayer, and for time with dear friends who I see mostly on Zoom. (And… I came because Betsy and Carol asked me to talk about what makes Centering Space such an important part of my life!)

I wasn’t disappointed. Not only was I welcomed with love but I saw the Lake’s brilliant sunsets and felt a gusty thunderstorm. I met some new friends and enjoyed Julie and Ginny, soul friends who are also Centering Space aficionados.

The visit with Julie and Ginny was a feast of food and new vocabulary.

Ginny recommended the book Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders and the Healing of the Earth by Debra Rienstra. Julie then discovered that Debra Rienstra also has a podcast “Rufugia: A Podcast about Renewal.”

So what are refugia? I listened to the first podcast and learned that, originally a term from biology, they are areas in which a population of organisms can survive through a period of unfavorable conditions especially glaciation. From Latin refugium “a taking refuge; a place of refuge, place to flee back to,” In Debra Rienstra’s podcast she describes these, metaphorically,  as safe and humble places where we can discover what God can accomplish and join with others to become part of a greater whole.

Had only I listened to this podcast before I was asked to talk about Centering Space!

Centering Space is a refugium… place of shelter, a small sanctuary, a safe place to flourish.  It is a place that has nurtured and sustained me in many ways.  It is not a place to escape or “bunker down” but a place of re-learning my place in life. Centering Space is a place to learn how God is working at renewing each of us, the Earth, our culture, and our world.  In our troubling times I need hope and renewal – I need refugia.    ~ Teri Leitwein