Reclaiming Our Children: A Blog About Healing After Abortion

I had a revelation last week. I do not have to spend money traveling the world, I only have to try to be silent and in the present moment to realize my mind will bring me to a million different places! I work while at leisure, stray from one thought to another while at work, travel, and even, sadly, while at mass.

We live in a busy world with multiple demands in our personal and professional lives. Add to that our political climate and the craziness of the world that seems to have no truths, and it, at least for me, becomes very hard to be silent and just in the presence of God.

I had been looking for a silent retreat. I have often gone on silence and solitude, but I felt I wanted some conferences and direction this year to help pull me back from the many distractions I had recently been experiencing that seemed to rob my peace. I was very happy to learn about the "Into the Deep" retreat. A contemplative, 5 day silent retreat with Fr. Jeremiah Shryock, of the Fransican Friars of the Renewal (C.F.R.).  An added bonus on the retreat was Fr. Michael, whose prayer, sharing, and presence enriched the retreat!)

Through the use of "prayer words" we were pulled back to God when distracted in contemplative prayer. What at first seemed like "how am I going to spend all this time in silence," after a couple of days turned into,  "Thank you God for this time of prayer in silence, please don't let it end!"

Throughout the days I found myself less distracted and more focused on the only thing that really matters, the living presence of God in my life.  I felt at home in my heart, in the presence of God and confirmation and clarity for some things I had been struggling with.

In addition to the silent prayer, we were blessed with beautiful daily conferences that enhanced the prayer experience, while also affording a lightness through Father Jeremiah's approach. He also  assured us that the struggles with prayer are common to everyone, and what truly mattered is our desire and surrender to God over and over through our personal prayer word.

An extra blessing were the group sharing with some wonderful people, and the "God things" that happened among the retreatants without the utterance of words, as we shared this special time of grace so richly given to us by God.

Ready for a silent guided retreat? If you are, check out "Into the Deep." Father would be open to bringing it to a location near you. The only thing he asks is that those who attend recognize what they are about to do in silence and truly desire this time to sit in the presence of the One who loves us unconditionally.  Visit the Events Page on the Community's website for updates on a retreat near you or for contact information.

For me it was just what the Divine Physician ordered!