Sunday morning, slightly overcast, chill in the air, 20 women meet in the Walmart parking lot waiting for Chana Lew to arrive in her van. Before 8:30 AM on everyone's watch, Chana pulls into the lot and we greet her warmly. Chana has pulled together a group of women for the second annual trip to the Sedona Spa. We're to meet Ohr Chaya at Red Rock Park in Sedona for a hike through some of the most beautiful country on earth.
Chana, with baby son strapped into a car seat behind her, drives the 10 passenger van leading two other cars filled with excited women, anticipating the drive, the hike, lunch in the park, the spiritual workshops, and the spa treatments. The two hour drive passes quickly with new friendships being formed even as the miles pass.
Sedona doesn't disappoint us. The red rock formations, warming temperature, cool breeze, and blue skies beckon. Most opt for the walk led by Sherry, a few take the driving/walking tour through Sedona. We'll meet again in less than two hours. Those of us who are hiking walk at our own pace in pairs, single file, and in small groups that mix and mesh and mix again. We're looking for vertexes, and enjoying being outdoors already feeling blessed by nature's bounty.
When the hike is over and we meet together as a group, Chaya is ready with our first assignment. We are to think of our lives to date and create a title for the book of our lives. Then, we are to create chapters that tell our story. That's already enough of an assignment, but Chaya is not finished with us yet. We are told to recall times when we have been with G-d, when we have known with absolute certainty that G-d was beside us. Finally, Chaya challenges us to consider what masks we currently wear. What separates us from being with G-d. This is a tall order, a challenging, thoughtful center for our personal reflections.
We put all that aside, however, when we enjoy the wonderful lunch Chana has prepared. Broiled chicken with humus, guacamole, diced tomatoes, onions, lettuce. Fresh coleslaw, grilled bell peppers, fresh giant tortilla wraps. What a treat. Sadly, the beautifully prepared freshly baked cakes have gotten wet from the melting ice in the chest on the way up, but we pick through for dry cakes and enjoy what we find.
Then it is off to the spa where after a short bit of pandemonium we sort out who is having what spa treatments when. While some are getting their treatments the rest meet with Chaya to talk about our books, the chapters, our meetings with G-d, and the masks. There's not nearly enough time to share all we are thinking, and we are slow to start since we are getting to know one another and getting past our shyness. The time passes too quickly and we are told it is time to leave, 4:30 and right on schedule.
The ride home is uneventful with Chana driving skillfully, as she does everything she undertakes. We've all decided that one brief day is not nearly enough and wonder how we can accommodate everyone and turn this into a weekend retreat. We'll work it out.
We part where we met, in the Walmart parking lot amidst hugs and promises to be in touch. We will see one another again at the Purim Party in Paris on March 20th. I can hardly wait.
