Two articles appearing in the Havasu Religion page of Today’s News-Herald recently were no doubt helpful to many. One was titled “The Camino, a Catholic pilgrimage. .
.” and the other was titled “Feeling 10 feet tall,” the story of Eric Tilgner’s search for forgiveness, healing and gratitude on the Appalachian Trail. These are about pilgrimages within which individuals savored long journeys so they could process events taking place (or what they hoped would take place) in life.
These articles were not about any belief or religion in particular, but rather about people realizing a need to step aside from daily regimes for the sake of taking care of their souls (regarding mind, will and emotion). Jesus said to His disciples, at a time when many demands were pressing them and making it difficult to take good care of themselves, “Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place and rest for a while.
” In the past I attended retreats and visited monasteries but the most outstanding “pilgrimages” made were 8-day silent retreats scheduled at Nazareth Retreat Center in Boise, Idaho. These were for spiritual directors who were invited to attend by the Idaho and Oregon Desean Bishops. For Idahoans there was no long journey to make, but “a place apart” was found, for sure.
One hour a day each of the 50 attendants could talk with one of the Bishops or Fr. John who was the Director of the retreat center. The first three days of living in total silence were not ea.