Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” Mark 6:31
I just made a two-day retreat. I took time out of my busy schedule to go away and spend some quiet time with Jesus. It was a silent retreat, meaning that it was not a visiting-with-other-people retreat. It even meant shutting off my phone and closing off all distractions.
The dictionary definition for retreat means a place you can go to be alone, to be away from it all. A spiritual retreat is where you pull away from regular daily life to try to hear the Lord. It is a common practice in the Catholic tradition.
I found it very fruitful. Though it is hard to get away, it is so worth it. I was renewed in body, mind, and spirit. I was able to tune out daily life and was able to hear Jesus more clearly. I felt revived in the silence, in prayer, through creation, and through the sacraments.
I know it may be hard for some of you to do this especially if you have small children. Perhaps, however, you could find a sitter for a few hours while you go to a church for a bit and sit in the silence before the Lord. You can talk to him and he talk to you. You may find that little time makes a difference for you.
Jesus desires to communicate with us, but it is up to us to listen. Why don’t you think about taking some time out for a spiritual retreat? It may be just the thing you need.
God bless you.
Mother Hen
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