Bridges to Peace by Wendy (youth leader)
We pilgrims of St. Alban’s j2a celebrated bridges to peace. Matt, the director of the Corrymeela Community outside of Ballycastle, told us about the history of Corrymeela, and the Conflict. We did an exercise with two teams and two hula hoops. Each of eight people extended their index fingers to support a hoop, and they together had to lower it to the ground (easier said than done).
From metaphorical bridges, we went on to conquer a literal bridge, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge on the Antrim coast. It spans the gap between a headland and an island, and challenges people to walk 30ish meters suspended 30ish meters above the sand and sea. Many of the pilgrims (including me!) were less than comfortable (okay, scared silly), and the others really rallied, supporting and guiding their peers and leaders who needed encouragement and reassurance. It was wonderful to see the kids step into the roles of counselors and leaders. Once on the island, everyone found his or her own way to enjoy the space — some went off to journal, some climbed over rocks and hillsides, others played silly games and laughed into the brisk wind. One pilgrim said she had an epiphany on the island, and now she’s more certain about what she wants to do with her life. It was that sort of place — one to conquer fears and listen to small still voices.
Later, in the evening, everyone walked down to the strand/beach below Corrymeela, wearing borrowed wet suits, and plunged into the Irish Sea for one last romp. One of the pilgrims later said that it felt like a kind of baptism, a new start. The evening brought a less symbolic but equally wet activity, as the community had set up a giant slip-n-slide on the lawn, and everyone was laughing and being goofy together.
Our evening meditation and worship took place down at the Corrymeela labyrinth and bonfire. everyone was able to walk the labyrinth and think about the pilgrimage journey. If it hadn’t have been for the voracious midges, i think we’d still be out there, listening to people pass around the guitar.
A Northern Irish group of teens had come to Corrymeela while we were out, and as happens, the two groups met up and started sharing stories and asking questions. They joined us in our common room and talked late into the evening.
It would be the best day of pilgrimage… until the next day, when we went into Belfast…