R + R

Karavostasis, Folegandros, Wednesday 15 June 2011

When I was planning this European adventure some months ago, the idea of a short time in the Greek Islands stirred memories of a youthful dream I'd had to visit this part of the world. The dream had lain dormant for many years. Indeed, I 'd almost forgotten it, but now was the time to live it.

The web pictures of Folegandros showed me what I'd imagined the perfect Greek Island to be. And so, Folegandros became a firm part of the itinerary.

The island has not let me down. It is small, but not too small for good walks. And it is unspoilt. I'd like to think it will stay this way, but this might be a vain hope. I'm staying at the port, which is truly delightful. The main "centre", Chora, is just over 3 km away, up into the hills and the sparse interior. I call Chora the centre, which it is, but it's really just a big village. The port has a few hotels,a handful of eateries, and one supermarket which is on the lines of the old corner shop. Chora has a lot more eateries and a few small gift shops. The whole thing just suits me fine.

The island is hilly (some might say mountainous) and vegetation is sparse with lots of brush and heaths. And everywhere there are low, dry stone walls - kilometres of them. In all the island there must be hundreds, if not thousands, of kilometres of stone walling. Hills that slope to the sea are terraced with these walls. Otherwise open areas are delineated by stone walls into fields. But there seems to be no obvious reason or purpose for this. The island has a chequered history and I wonder if, at some time in the past, it was more populated, productive and prosperous than it now is (and so needed, and used, the stone walling). Another feature that positively fascinates me is the number of churches on this small land mass. There are surely a hundred, maybe more. They're called churches, but they look more like wayside chapels. Some would be filled with a dozen people inside. Still with today's permanent population reputed to be just 250, there's an amazing number of churches for them to choose from. Sadly, in my walking, I have found that most of these delightful buildings are locked.

The island is definitely not commercialised. I'm glad of this. I had a brief taste of the more popular destinations during a day at Naxos on my way through. It was busy, and very commercial. It wasn't unpleasant, just not what I want at this time,

I reckoned after the concentration of walking in Spain and the excitement of meeting the family, I'd need a place of stillness and peace where I could rest. I've found that place. This is my time for R + R. That is: Rest and Reflection. Yes, the other R's come into it also - relaxation and recreation (who couldn't relax and enjoy recreation along a coastline that is littered with great beaches?)

And so to reflection. The Spanish walk got me pondering long and deep on relationships - my relationship with Him, and my relationships with others. This has been furthered during my time here. But another aspect of life and living has been coming to me clearly and almost insistently in this time, and this is: Simplicity.

I have been challenged to consider simplicity in living. Indeed my days here have given me a good lead. I wake in the morning to the rising sun streaming across the harbour and into my bedroom. What boats are at anchor are busily bobbing on an incredibly blue sea against an amazingly blue sky. Breakfast is a simple meal, sometimes taken on the  terrace balcony to my room overlooking the harbour on one side and looking up into the hills on another side. Or I might wander down to the beach and take a snack at one of the cafe bars that sit on the pebbles just metres from the water. After breakfast I might catch up with emails, write a posting for the blog etc. Or I might feel energetic enough to pack a bag and hike off to one of the many beaches which are inviting and relatively un-peopled. The day meanders,with much time for relaxing and reflecting. And simplicity is coming through loud and clear.

I was first consciously introduced to a simpler life style during my time at Bible College many years ago. I realised all the things I could do without - the possessions, the position, the power and influence that seem to mark us as successful and which we chase after often to the loss and detriment of what might truly matter. Since Bible College days the lesson of simplicity in living has continued. I've downsized in housing and, likely, in general. And I've not missed out on anything. I've experienced a new reality. It's who I am that matters, not what I own or what I do. Being comes before doing or having. I'm so grateful that I've received this revelation, but it goes on, and I sense there's more to come.

There's more to come of the European Pilgrimage. Tomorrow I return to Athens and thence to Turkey. And so on. But in a few weeks I shall return to Australia, and normal life. Whatever is normal about my life?

Come what may, I pray for simplicity - it's so good!