This week, I wanted to offer a few resources to help us reach our goals for our spiritual life in the new year. New York Times had this article by Susan Gregory Thomas on the benefit of a silent retreat. Here is an excerpt from her experience at Wernersville Retreat Center.
I sat on one of these at the top of a hill, closed my eyes and sat. I don’t know how long I was there, not meditating “on the breath” or deliberately clearing my mind, but simply internally rolling over the words of my custom-tailored Matthew 3:17. Slowly, though, I grew to feel still and happy.
Later that night, I peeked into the center’s adytum, a dark and lovely stone chapel whose altar glowed with candlelight. I approached a pew and knelt. I thought about my closest family and friends and how Matthew 3:17 might be custom-fit for them, too. Again, time evaporated. That night, I slept 12 hours straight. I hadn’t slept half that much in more than a decade. To read the rest….
As our first resource for developing our spiritual life for the new year, I encourage you to attend a silent retreat. There are silent retreats offered all over the country in retreat houses. Many offer weekend version as well as 5-8 day silent retreats. If you are interested to find out more about silent retreat locations, here are a few places to look (I have attended retreats led by these religious orders in Louisiana and Georgia);
Other options to help your search:
If you have questions about what a silent retreat is, let me know!
Thanks for celebrating retreats and Wernersville, a place I have been to on many a silent retreat.