Of course Corrymeela did do all these things, but, as no surprise, not in the way I had expected.

The Croi is a designated worship space at the Ballycastle Centre and in need of spiritual rejuvenation I had anticipated spending lots of time there. What I had not expected, to my delight, were the creatively inspired and richly varied ways in which members of the Corrymeela Community lead and participate in worship in the Croi.

Morning and evening, as each new session drew onto the next, I learned something new not only about my own inner life and about that of each worship leader, but also about the life of this vital and important reconciliation Community.

During one uplifting session Corrymeela’s Volunteer Support Worker Sonja Tammen recounted a story to demonstrate the idea that in conflict resolution, awareness of and overcoming fear of ‘the other’, are very important. It brought me back to the simple processes of understanding and empathy; in my own journey into peace and reconciliation work, I have gained a deep appreciation for people’s own individual stories and journeys.

I realized that in this line of work it is essential to learn about and to learn from stories with slightly different endings, stories as much about individual survival as about forging relationships or peace building. How do we get from one kind of story to another, and how do we teach both? When is the time, and where is the place, for each?

At Corrymeela, I found the place and the time. And I found the courage to ask myself, and the communities in which I find myself, new questions going forward.