Goats in, rats out:Woodberry Crossing 2021
As I write this, we are just passing the town of Gibson, Pa, heading North on 81 toward home after a few days at Woodberry Crossing. “We” is Steve and Jen Parsons and myself—the smallest Trinity work group ever to go to Woodberry, but nonetheless productive and glad to have been present even for just a few days.
A little background for anyone not familiar with Woodberry Crossing. Woodberry is a small farm outside Baltimore, MD, the dream-made-into-reality of Beth Bryant, where kids from inner city Baltimore can come to experience nature, farm animals of various kinds, the outdoors in ways not possible in most cities. The connection through Trinity is Jean Hayes, who was Beth’s college roommate; every year since 2003 (except for last year, due to COVID) an Inter-generational group from Trinity has gone to Woodberry for a few days to build buildings, fix broken things, clean up, weed, etc. while also experiencing this spirit-led ministry where it often seems just about anything is possible.
COVID still made it unadvisable this year to bring a large group, but it worked out for the Parsons and I to go and spend a few days, partly just to be present with our dear friends who just lost Beth’s husband, Barry, in mid June, and also to get a few things done.
The “few things” turned out to be mending some fences so that the goats could not get out and eat all the farmer’s corn . . . and reinforcing and fixing holes in the feed shed so that rats couldn’t get in. So—our mantra became: Keeping goats in and rats out.” We also joined each morning for a “spiritual pause”—what we’ve called our devotionals ever since we started these trips in 2003, spend some time each late afternoon in the pool (it was hot—90s both days) and were blessed by the space and the people.
We also got to take a stream hike with the group of kids that were there—a group of 8 boys from a program for families who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Their leader impressed all of us with his calm and loving but firm manner with the boys, and their excitement about all there was to do on the stream hike was infectious—once again, God’s presence made known in the laughter of children.
As we drive, we’re making plans for next year (there’s lots to be done) and hoping to bring a larger group to be renewed and nourished (oh, and get some work done) in this “thin place” where God’s love is made real every day.
