CARPET ATTUNEMENT

Just before the 21st birthday of the Community in November 1983, my wife Bernadette and I, still full with the tremendous adventure of our Experience Week, were working as guests in Cluny. The focaliser asked me to help paint the Sanctuary. What an honour! The whole Sanctuary needed redoing as there had been a fire recently.

We were happily wielding our brushes, slightly under the pressure of time as the new carpet was scheduled to arrive soon. I asked what colour it was to be. The colour of the carpet was of course a very important question — hotly discussed, not only in the work-group, but by members of the Cluny family. As an agreement was not yet in sight, it was decided everyone interested would meditate together and listen to the still, small voice within to definitely decide on the colour.

After the meditation the outcome was duly noted down: “It’s grey,” said one. “I’ve got red,” said another. “No, I clearly heard green.’” There were several colours mentioned, so a special carpet was ordered with a grey background and red, green, blue, and yellow threads in it. It was an important experience for me, because until then I had expected the Holy Spirit to talk with just one voice. Since then I know better and I often imagine how God is smiling at us his beloved children.

Christoph Greiner