As we arrived for our retreat, we were greeted by glorious spring sunshine. The driveway at Ladywell retreat centre, was full of daffodils and primroses.......a welcome reminder that we are entering another season of the year.
There was a warm welcome awaiting us, and we got to know each other over tea and cake!
After supper, we started with an introduction on 'why' come on a retreat and after we entered into silence, we focussed on a painting called 'The fight between Carnival and Lent' which gave us much to reflect on.
The rhythm of our days soon felt natural as we worshipped together in the morning and evening. There were led times of input, with handouts for us to use in the time we spent alone. Ladywell has beautiful grounds, so it was a joy to walk, think and pray whilst outside and there was plenty of time to sit and rest........
How we inhabit time was a question we were asking on the retreat, and hopefully the answers arose from the fact that our being in time, is a temporary state and that this is often a hindrance to the sort of lives we’d like to live. We may have a nostalgic view or regrets about the past, we are often restless or complacent about the present, and we may be anxious about the future. These are all common human experiences and often they are experiences which hinder us from living well. So, we are in time, all of the time……. but maybe we are not so good at inhabiting time?
As we came to the end of our retreat, we thought about 'a retreat completed in never something finished'. For all that has been brought to the surface, positive and negative, needs to be integrated and deepened as we all return to ordinary life, home, work, relationships and much more.
How we inhabit time may involve us looking at the liturgical seasons and the seasons of nature we live within, the seasons of our own chronological clock that is ticking by…….it may involve us adapting patterns and rhythms of prayer, worship and study.....in order for us to respond to an awareness or insight received. For all our spiritual journeys continue…….and our hope is that we might all reflect more clearly the presence of God as we respond to his light living within us.
Prayer - Father, Son & Holy Spirit, we give thanks for Your unfailing love, over time.....and for the many ways that you have and will encounter us. May Your eternal love be our living hope, now in the present and our greatest joy as we journey through the different seasons of life. As we go now, would you reveal to each of us how to inhabit time, to discern your will and live more fully the lives you have gifted us.......through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Some comments from those who came:
Wonderful retreat, I emerged energised, wiser and hungry for more.
It was a haven of peace for me and has given me a well of riches to draw strength on in the coming days and weeks ahead.
You led with such beautiful creativity. The combination of words, music, silence and resources to take away and reflect on were expertly crafted to create space for each person to open up to God and grow in faith.
Thank you so much for the wonderful retreat last week. It was exceptionally well prepared and I found each of the thoughts and reflections to be deeply meaningful and inspiring. Ladywell is beautiful, a peaceful place and together the venue and reflections enabled me to spend time thinking about how I inhabit time and the way in which we carry our past with us. ‘It shapes us but does not define us’ was a key statement you made and I have found that has stayed with me.
If you would like to know more about retreats, then do please get in touch with me.
Sharon
