This past Saturday, I returned from a weeklong silent retreat. The Retreat Center where I was is at the top of a large hill, I guess too small to be considered a mountain, but for me, I felt like I was far, far away from the daily rhythms of my busy life. It had been several years since I made an extended retreat, and boy did I ever miss them. As providence would have it, the person who has been my guide on previous retreats was leading this one, and it was such a blessing to work with him again. Not having to spend a lot of time introducing myself allowed us to jump right in.
I could go on and on about the many experiences I had, but let’s just say I received some new and important insights into myself, my relationship with God, and my knowledge of Ignatian Spirituality. I couldn’t have asked for much more.
If you have never been a retreat lasting longer than a weekend, I would really recommend making the investment. Giving up precious vacation time or time which could be spent with family and friends is hard, and cost might also be a factor. But at the end of the day, life is short and spending quality time to deepen your relationship with God will always be a good thing.
I hope that God gives me the opportunity to come back. I want to see those mountains and hills break into song, the trees clapping their hands.
Life is a gift, and the Giver is good!
