NOTE: I wrote this late on the day of our arrival in Belfast and my jet lagged brain thought writing it and actually posting it were the same thing … I’ll leave it as I wrote it and then post about Saturday’s work soon.
19 June 2026, Belfast, Northern Ireland
We began this evening by sharing around the table. This first time we have all embodied the same space has been amazing. To begin, we were all asked to share in three words or less how we are arriving in the space. When my turn came I said, “without luggage.” You see, I may have arrived in Northern Ireland ready to experience the wisdom and work of seasoned peace builders but my suitcase did not. And although the airline knew for certain it came off a particular plane and that it did not make the connecting flight, it took most of the day for them to be able to tell me what plane it will actually be arriving on in Belfast (well, at least they have it scheduled, no absolute guarantee the kind agent on the phone told me, but I have hope!).
Earlier in the day as I and another member of the group arrived weary at our hotel, she was willing to walk this yet unknown to us city with me, in the pouring rain, so that I could purchase a few clothing basics and toiletries. Another kind new friend, one of our hosts who lives in Belfast talked me through getting some prescription meds to tide me over until my luggage does arrive. And another simply said to let her know if I need more clothes. I didn’t have to ask, they just brought their knowledge and willingness to the proverbial and real table.
As preparation for our first session in person we were asked to reflect on one key insight from our journey so far. I spent the first leg of my flight, you know, when my luggage and I were still together, writing about how much learning to be truly, curiously, relationally present requires us to let go of like the need to be right or the need to avoid conflict or the need to win or the need for validation or the need to fix. We can’t receive God’s goodness and be shaped by it if our hands (and heads and heart and soul) are full of the things that weigh us down.
When Jesus sends the disciples out he tells them to leave behind their ‘extras’ (“Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff …”. Matthew 10:9-10, NRSVUE). And just like my statement “without luggage” was about so much more than my suitcase, I think Jesus meant so much more than money or sandals, or tunics.
The immersion is about letting go of old ways of seeing and dealing with (or in my case not dealing with) conflict so that we can be transformed by our experience here. When our bags or hands or lives are filled with all the things and ways that keep us working on our own kingdom instead of God’s we can’t pick up what it is God wants to give us that equips us to build up God’s Kingdom-on-earth-as-in-heaven. What do we each to let go of that isn’t helpful or that prevents us from cultivating relationships?
I do continue to hold out hope that my luggage will arrive tomorrow, but really it is just stuff that is replaceable, even if some of my favorite shirts are in there. The relationships I’m building in this time and the transformation I know will happen are invaluable and irreplaceable.
Tomorrow we will embark on a walking, story experiencing, learning (the transformative type) quest through Belfast.
I continue to ask for and appreciate your prayers.
Mother Nancy's Coffee Thoughts 