One of our spiritual direction training assignments this session was to go on a 24 hour silent retreat. We then had to write a short paper on the experience which I am sharing here. It is the best assignment yet and I would encourage anyone who is looking for a quiet time for prayer and contemplation to give it a go!
I knew where I wanted to go from the start. The Providence Renewal Centre not far from me provides Sacred Space for silent retreats and I had gone there before on person retreat and had a great experience. I waited until May 20th so that things would be a little greener here and I could spend time outside on the grounds which are lovely and peaceful, and they have a labyrinth as well.
I started my retreat at 1 pm Friday and when I got into my room I soon was sitting down in the chair and the first thing I did was pick up Richard Rohr’s book The Universal Christ which I had been wanting to read for some time. I just read the cover and started to weep. They were tears of release and gratitude and I just let myself cry. I started the book and, as he invites us to do, I spent time contemplating several passages Lectio Divina style. So impactful, such a universal message of love and assurance.
I later went out to the labyrinth and walked it slowly weeping once again. Then I walked around the grounds and continued to reflect and contemplate. I did more reading and contemplation through the rest of the afternoon and in the evening which was such a blessing. I had come to realize that while I may be meditating twice a day and journaling my three pages every morning, I have not been spending nearly enough time simply contemplating and thinking about God, Life, being human, etc. This retreat afforded me plenty of time and space to do that and I felt very enriched by all the meditating and contemplating I did.
I walked the labyrinth a couple more times during my stay, the last time more as a walking meditation and I came away with the thought that no matter what, our arrival at our destination is assured.
The Centre wasn’t quite as well organized as it had been previously and there were a few glitches but for me they turned out to be perfect as I just let everything be as it was and appreciated it all, including a very sleepless night with restless legs and some pain. It was all part of the experience that I saw as being for me and my purpose for being there which was a sacred time of presence and acceptance.
I would certainly recommend this type of retreat as a way of taking focused time to let go and become more aware of God’s ever-present activity.
The last lines I read and contemplated deeply from The Universal Christ before leaving had the most impact on me. “The Crucified and Risen Christ uses the mistakes of the past to create a positive future, a future of redemption instead of retribution. He does not eliminate or punish the mistakes. He uses them for transformative purposes. People formed by such love are indestructible. Forgiveness might just be the very best description of what God’s goodness engenders in humanity.”
And so, I ended my retreat as I started, weeping tears of gratitude for God’s ever-present Grace. (And I’m weeping as I write this as well; so, so grateful).
Namaste
ps the photo is at the Providence Centre grounds.
