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 easy.
The Bishops periodically, met with us teaching more about how spiritual direction can best help grow spiritually, which heals lives. Yet, each day we could walk the beautiful grounds, sit in the chapel or enjoy time in our rooms reading what we wanted, soaking solace for our souls. For me, stopping all thoughts of things the mind is usually calculating or pondering took some patience.
But from there on the last five days opened my heart and “inner ears” for God’s voice. What an amazing change! I recall after the retreat I could not drive even close to the speed limit as my mind had accustomed itself to an exceedingly slower pace. I had to get in the right lane and do my best to stay with traffic.
But what I gained while at Nazareth in peace, comfort and other fruits of the Spirit, were priceless. It is important to know that substances cannot keep the soul safe, nor can constant activities. Most of us need “slow down times,” whether centering on spiritual/religious beliefs, going to the ocean or finding other ways to engross ourselves in the beauty of nature.
We as modern humans must take some solace-filled breakaways. Peace and quiet can be hard to find, but with some planning and diligence we are able to discover where it is possible to reach needed respite. Current times worldwide are unsteady.
It is hard to see so many changes taking place at so swift a pace. Call it healing what hurts. Or, “de-numbing” may be what is at hand for at least a few of us.
It can be about forgiving what is bringing uneasiness to life, or a sense of feeling “lost” or “unsafe.” Sometimes we can only take a long weekend to reach a place where solitude is possible. That in itself can serve to allow the deeper, eternal part of ourselves to soar like a kite.
God loves us and wants to converse with us sans interruptions. For me this takes place within a daily, early a.m.
practice of journaling and Bible reading. This opens “the ears” of my soul enabling me to “hear.” It’s a practice that greatly helps with life’s load.
About the author: Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain. Her articles and blogs are read in 32 countries. Joy’s four books are available on her home page at Healing-with-Joy.
com where readers can view her children’s book titled, The Little Mountain Goat Who Was Afraid of High Places..
