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Beryl Bissell, Author
Bio-Beryl Bissell
Beryl is an Oblate of St. Benedict connected with St. Scholastica Monastery in Duluth , and has more than 50 years of spiritual practice. Her husband, a former Lutheran Minister, has named their home on Lake Superior Beryl’s Monastery and joins her in meditation and the praying of Lauds and Vespers. He has also built a labyrinth (working with the topography of their woody, rocky terrain) on their property. Three meditation benches overlooking Lake Superior complete the landscape. She invites anyone in the area to come walk the labyrinth or use the benches to pray or read and wants you to know that this invitation includes you.
Reflection on fear and beauty, by Beryl
On the North Shore of Lake Superior where I live, I am surrounded by a landscape so exquisite in its beauty, so terrible in its fragility, so terrifying in its power that I feel I am standing, as did Moses, on sacred ground. It is the perfect place for prayer, inundated as it is with constant reminders of God’s awesome presence: The sudden, startling changes that turn the lake from an expanse of shimmering blue to a raging brown that dashes cliffs and ledge rock, sending seething geysers skyward. The cool, green forests that in times of drought become raging infernos. The delicate spring ephemerals that carpet the forest floor and the mighty pines and maples that topple by the thousands a top them in strong wind. The predators that roam the forests hunting deer and rabbit. The towering moose that in hot weather die when swarmed by ticks; the birds of prey that seize the lovely songbird.
Yet I do not fear the mighty God whose creative power can be so tender and so harsh. I’ve experienced God’s constant care for me – even when drowning in a vortex of suffering. Let me tell you a story. Several years ago, during an especially frightening time in my life, I had a dream (perhaps a vision) of standing on a high mountain. It was night, but I was not alone. With me was a presence that I sensed but could not see. The dark was so intense it muted every sound until that silence was shattered by the beating of immense metallic wings bearing down on me. Each time this mighty bird dove toward me, I hurled myself to the ground in terror. The invisible presence, however, remained standing.
“Throw yourself down,” I cried. “No,” the presence commanded. “You must stand up. Stand up and it will not harm you.” Possessed of a courage I did not possess in daily life, I stood, and the mighty silver bird ceased to dive. Instead it guided me down the mountain, flying to my right.About halfway down the mountain, a lion joined us and began walking to my left. We traveled a long time through an immense desert and I began to fear the lion, whom I knew was hungry. When the lion moved ahead to dig up a cache of meat, and continued to do so throughout the trip, my fear departed and I journeyed from then on in confidence.
The suddenness of the sharp-shinned hawk’s attack brought this dream back to me. It reminded me that throughout every experience, even the violent death of my beautiful young daughter, I’ve found myself sustained by a courage that is not mine but belongs to God. When I pray Lauds every morning, I feel especially embraced by this strengthening presence, knowing that I am but one small melody in the great hymn of praise rising from all living beings toward God. It gives me the courage to “stand up,” and confront whatever lies before me, even as a song bird faces the sudden, swift attack of a sharp-shinned hawk yet continues to sing.
© Beryl Singleton Bissell
Posted by Debra Classen at 8/10/2009 7:46 PM 
Categories: Reflections, Prayer
Tags: prayer reflections Beryl Bissell
Categories: Reflections, Prayer
Tags: prayer reflections Beryl Bissell
Interesting,
Keep up the good work,
Thanks for writing, most people don't bother.
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