Dar and I had profound encounters with God at this abbey, which I write about in Clairvaux Manifesto (pp.213-214). That particular day began in Arles and ended in Cannes. The next day began in Nice and led up the A8 into Northern Italy to a former spiritual habitation for nuns in the mountains of wine country. A peacock greeted our vehicle as a glorious meal was spread out for us under an arbor of grape vines…

Back to the fountain at Le Thoronet, I imagined the many Cistercians who gathered there (like David and Jonathan), sharing the hesed of YHWH,

Jonathan said, “Go in peace! The two of us have vowed friendship in God’s name, saying, ‘God will be the bond between me and you, and between my children and your children forever!’” (I Sam. 20:42, The Message)

Things turn a bit strange in the next chapters of Samuel. The anointed king pretends to be insane. Then the king himself goes insane; priests caught in the crossfire. One minute David and Jonathan are sharing the loving-kindness of God. The next minute, everyone goes completely mental. Even Achish was confused,

Achish came to trust David completely. He thought, “He’s made himself so repugnant to his people that he’ll be in my camp forever.”

I don’t think so, not with the hesed of YHWH all over him!

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