Spiritual Direction Retreat – Go Marveling!

We need to find God, and God cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, and flowers and grass – grow in silence. See the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence. The more we receive in silent prayer, the more we can give in our active lives. Mother Teresa

They came . . .

. . . and they got cozy . . . .

. . . and they ate . . .

. . . and they spent time with God . . .

. . . and they played . . .

. . .and some slept . . .

What a joy to spend the day with these six wonderful women – to create safe space and time for them to slow down, be still, share their joys and struggles, to pray and laugh and cry with God and with each other. The weather cooperated and we spent the morning exploring ten miracles before brunch, a creative idea taken from Christine Sine’s book, The Gift of Wonder. We talked about awe and wonder – what it is, what blocks us from experiencing this deep and simple joy and how to open ourselves to it. Research shows when we experience awe and wonder, we become less individualistic, less self-focused, less materialistic, more connected to those around in. In marveling at something greater than ourselves, we become more able to reach out to others.

We feasted during brunch and dinner, we painted mantalas on rocks, we walked and swung and slept and giggled and hugged and prayed.

We marveled all day. Alone with God and together with God.

We even got to celebrate a newborn grandson in the midst of our hours together.

And we went home to our full lives with greater capacity to love and a deep sense of connection and belonging.

Thank you, friends for enriching my life with your love and gifts and time.

When you regain a sense of your life as a journey of discovery, you return to rhythm with yourself. When you take the time to travel with reverence, a richer lie unfolds before you. Moments of beauty begin to braid your days. When your mind becomes more acquainted with reverence, the light, grace and elegance of beauty find you more frequently. When the destination becomes gracious, the journey becomes an adventure of beauty. Christine Sine, The Gift of Wonder