A Week in Ireland: To Serve is To Be Served

Day 3, Tuesday June 12th
Part I

Situated in south-eastern Ireland in the country town of Wexford is a 158-year-old country house hotel once known as Creacon Lodge. Nestled amidst age-old trees and flowers gardens this charming estate was purchased by Derek O'Neill and family not too long ago in 2006 when this landmark hotel was given a new purpose: to offer this cozy hotel to travelers not just as a place to call home away from home but as a healing center as well. Today the renewed lodge is officially recognized as the Prema Agni Creacon Lodge.

Having followed the progress of bringing this lodge-for-sale to public healing center, it was an honor to have had the chance to experience the clear abundance of beauty and loving energy at Creacon Lodge during this special week in Ireland. It was an unexpected gift and a great joy to everyone when on the previous Sunday it was announced that this would be one of our sacred site trips!

This morning, about an hour and a half on the road from the Clarion in Liffey Valley we finally arrived in Wexford. Through a long and narrow tree lined road just wide enough for one tour bus to pass between fields of emerald greens, we drove up the road to the gates of Creacon Lodge. There is a vast sense of peace in the countryside of Ireland that is ever so apparent and effortlessly felt at Creacon Lodge. The weather was unseasonably clear and sunny, not one gray cloud in the sky, the temperature was warm with the slightest breeze at my neck from time to time.

On Sunday we were given an assignment to have written one thing on a small sheet of paper to burn and offer to the Divine through a fire ceremony: one very specific thing that we wish to ask for Divine assistance in speeding up the process of removing blocks in specific areas of our life. It was Tuesday and I still hadn't had anything written, a good insight at the procrastinator I tend to be when it comes to homework. What can I say, I work well under pressure and true to this statement I was when inspiration flooded over me and I found myself sitting on the lawn with clarity and precision in executing my thoughts and fine turning my words to form a statement that was concise, clear and specific to one thing that was so straight to the point it targeted every area of my life with just one request. I felt satisfied and ready to participate in this ceremony of surrender to God.

Soon it was time for lunch and we made our way to the lovely tables that were set for us under the open sky near the generous green lawn and alongside the rose bushes. A medley of brioche, raisin and whole wheat breads greeted us in linen lined baskets at each table. Dressed with a mix-match of linens, tableware and porcelain cups and saucers the table settings painted a picture perfect display of the diverse sources of love that was put into collecting these items to stock the Creacon Lodge restaurant. Up until writing this entry I never gave a thought as to what happened to the original stock of tableware that must have graced this historic lodge, for in the end it wasn't as significant as the love that matched every moment of this wonderful meal as prepare and served by the restaurant team, including Derek O'Neill.

Just moments after starting our lunch with a tasting of the dense and rich local breads, a parade of warm plates came from the kitchen out to the red brick paved driveway that catered as our dining patio. Dishes of baked salmon dressed with a sheet of beurre blanc and accompanied by a dollop of simple mashed potatoes, baked new potatoes [the Irish sure do love their potatoes], steamed garden vegetables grown on the land were generously and lovingly set before us. The thick and richly colored fillet was cooked to perfection with each bite being just as moist and flaky as the one before. (Salmon really is one of a few fish that are perfect to serve when preparing for large groups as it is difficult to over cook this fatty fish even when kept warm for longer than usual before serving). It wasn't until I tasted the sauce that I realized the extra helping of potatoes just might have been strategically placed to sop up any leftover sauce that was not devoured with the salmon. I heard that the talented Chef Mary was famous for her delicious meals at Creacon, and now I can say I agree firsthand.

But the quality of this meal went far beyond the freshness of the ingredients, perfection in recipe and beautiful arrangement of fish and vegetables. What resonated so deeply with me that I held back tears this lunch was all the Love Love Love that truly went into this meal. We were welcomed, we were served generously, with so much loving intent that to see the staff, including Derek and his wife Linda, bring us comfort through service and food with no less than their pure enjoyment of doing so reminded me so clearly that to be of service is to do it through pure Love. And at that moment I realized all those years I waited tables at various restaurants, from casual to fine dining, was all in Divine preparation to be of service to people of all walks of life - from homeless people who would ask for a cup of water or leftovers, college students on spring break or dates, middle class, upper class, young and old, people of all sexes, all shapes, sizes, religions, spiritual beliefs, shades of color and ability - and every being on this planet through Love. That no matter whom I came across, no matter what their attitude towards life, the best I can ever do is to effortlessly maintain Love in my entire being, which in turn is so contagious and uplifting that regardless who I am serving They will have at very least been fed through Love: the most nourishing, powerful source of fuel for anyone. It's like having dessert first before a meal.

And the end to a wonderful meal is usually dessert, but concluding lunch with an slice of layer cake that was sweet and crunch was just the beginning to a magical day. Thinly sliced and sweet it was just enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. Shortly after coffee I found myself sitting on a bench tucked away under God's shed of trees on a wood chip lined path. The events to follow during this afternoon at Creacon Lodge would be life transforming, cycle completing, eye opening, and heart expanding....


To Be Continued...