The first conference at an Abbey Retreat is generally dedicated to helping the participants move from their ordinary, practical lives into the sacred time and place of "Retreat". At my most recent retreat, Fr. Jerome began our time by asking the questions: Who (and how) are you right now? ....are you a wounded puppy? are you a seeker? what is the hunger you carry?
The second question was: Who is God? He reminded us that our perception of the God to whom we are praying....the presence we are entering....helps us notice where and how we are beginning our retreat experience. The way we answer that question exposes the openness of our heart and mind to what may be given. Our answer may help us "see" areas of resistance or fear!
Answering those questions places our feet on the true path of what is unfolding. Fr. Jerome encouraged us to appreciate the impact that "retreat" can have when we step away from self-determined agendas. He invited us to notice (to "see) the threshold upon which we stand....entering into a time and space where we can consent to God's desire and purpose for US. He invited us to trust that in our time at the Abbey we can be lavished with God's love and wisdom that would bestow precisely what will meet our deepest needs so that we can move through the world as messengers of His peace and good will for all.
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