Retreat

Retreat literally means to get away, to seclude ourselves, and in our sense of the term here, it means to do so with a group of people, centering ourselves around a deeper understanding of the Truth that flows from God. And this is what we did this past weekend, making prayer, or communication with our Lord, the focus of our efforts. The introduction to and practice of new prayer forms did much for my understanding of what prayer is, but more importantly I learned the significance of and need for emphasis that we need to put on prayer in our lives. Everything we do, consider, discuss, should stem from our prayer lives. As true Christians and followers of God, nothing should stem from our own self-controlling will, but rather work in cooperation with what God is showing us in our lives; ever informed by our lives of prayer.

I cannot stress how important prayer is to all of our decisions and to our ultimate discovery of happiness, or our falling into despair. It is amazing how the practices that do not necessarily work against God, but do nothing positive for our bodies and persons lead us steadily away from what it means to be a true follower of Christ. Nothing should ever stand between us and our seeking this relationship. It should not matter where we are or what we have to accomplish, this always has to take priority, and I think that letting go of our ideas of controlling our lives is an important step in this process. If not we are likely to take the position that we here in the States so often do: "I don't have time!" Make time! For if we do not make time for God, neither are we making time for ourselves. For only God can know what will fulfill us in this life, even as much as we think we ourselves know how it should be. We do not!

This does not mean that we sit down on the ground and say, "God tell me what to do with my life!" No, rather it means that we develop our prayer lives and hence our relationship to Him, we set aside time by going to Mass or church service and grow our knowledge and understanding of him through discussion, Bible study, and catechism. Then we live our lives, following our hearts and our informed consciences, and the eternal spirit that lives within us will guide us in the ways of God, because our person has been filled up and informed on God, and the eternal spirit that lives within us can work in harmony with the body, heart, and mind that make up the rest of our personhood.

God is great, and gives us so many good things and so many clear signs. It is certainly high time that I accept what He has called me to in my own life, surrendering my will to His, in the knowledge that He knows the desires of my heart, and that my heart, my mind, my entire person, will not rest until it rests in Him.

I pray that you would all open your lives to the Word of God, and the words God has to share with you in prayer. Be always willing to serve Him, no matter what He calls you to. For we cannot know where to find joy, other than in Him, and if we take joy in seeking to follow Him, it will not matter what we do, for we will have Him always to sustain us and bring fulfillment to our lives!