The Hermitage
This weekend I had the privilege of going on a short retreat with some women from church. Our pastor asked if I would be interested in going to a "Hermitage"...I had no idea what that meant, but a short retreat where silence is involved? YES PLEASE! We arrived late Friday afternoon to a beautiful country setting and as soon as we got there I saw I had no cell service. Not a problem and something I am perfectly fine letting go of but I had left a sick child at home and wanted to check in and of course let Norm I had arrived safely. At one point I walked back to the road to see if I could send a quick text, but nope, no service. Eventually I sent one from my pastors phone and heard that all was well at home. Phew, sigh of relief.
Anyhow, about the hermitage...we enter to find our names have been placed on our rooms and what cute rooms they were. In mine was a small bed, desk and chair and on my pillow a chocolate bar with a note that read
"Come away from rush and hurry to the stillness of God's peace; from our vain ambition's worry, come to Christ to find release. Come away from noise and clamor, life's demands and frenzied pace; come to join the people gathered here to seek and find God's face."
I looked out my window to a gravel road, trees and green grass and breathed in deeply. This was exactly what I had been needing. That evening we went down winding stairs to the basement where amazing smells were floating from. We sat together to eat dinner in silence. The man who had prepared the meal explained that we would be having vegetarian chilli with quinoa, cabbage salad, cornbread and cookie bars. He said, "let us remember that food is God's love in edible form". We served ourselves and sat at a table set simply and beautifully with two oil lamps down the center. I watched the flame flicker and imagined it to be the Holy Spirit come to dine with us. For some it might be awkward to eat at a table with others and not speak, intentionally. For me, it was pure bliss. To sit in peace and quiet and eat a warm meal, to savor each bite...I can hardly put it into words. I know they use very good quality ingredients, very fresh produce, but it was if I could taste the love in the food...the love of the Creator but also the love of the hands that prepared it for us. We finished the meal and went upstairs to have evening worship together. Following that was time of silence and contemplation to use however we wanted and then an optional fellowship time before going to bed.
Saturday morning I awake following my first night away since Freija was born. No rushing to take kids to school, and then to work...no grocery shopping to be done...nothing but silence. I go downstairs to have breakfast, everything laid out for us to help ourselves. Fresh coffee, yogurt and granola, fruit or toast. I sit at the table, soft chanting music filling the room and eat my breakfast watching the birds out the window. Peace...stillness...love. I find myself getting emotional from time to time, feeling overwhelmed with love and wondering, why is it so hard to accept God's love? Is it because I know I don't deserve it? Because I have felt distant from Him? By His grace I begin to let go, let it swallow me up. Away from distractions I realize just how many there are. I decide to take Facebook off my phone because it's keeping me from being present, here and now. Time goes so fast, kids grow up and if I blink I'll miss it. I need to be more centered in Jesus and more present.
I walk to the chapel to attend a prayer service led by the hermitage staff. We sit to listen to a reading from Matthew and a poem. Shoes are removed before entering the room, candles are lit. This a sacred time...a holy place. A bell is rung and we begin 20 minutes of silence. It doesn't feel long, but like a deep cleansing breath filling my soul. A poor robin slams into it's reflection in the glass window at least 5 times. The bell rings and we stand to walk in a circle slowly and someone says, "as you face the day do not fight with your own reflection as the robin did, but see the reflection of Jesus Christ in you and in those you encounter today."
Morning worship together again; scripture reading, song and sharing.
They're very intentional here (I write in my journal). I followed a path through the woods that seemed to go no where, then I found myself suddenly in a small open space with tulips and daffodils and two benches spread apart overlooking a green field for contemplation. I walk the path asking the Lord to open my eyes to His beauty, grace, small wonders. For so long I have been distracted, my eyes out of focus. This gift of Sabbath has opened me up, cleared my vision and allowed me to accept His overflowing and abundant peace and love. As I sat in the crisp, clear air of the morning I could hear distant cars, tractors and chirping birds. The sun peeking through the clouds and warming my face. His glory and beauty is all around us, if only we have eyes to see and ears to hear. If only we can pause...breathe...and revel in it.
We return for our final meal together. Lunch is homemade chicken noodle soup (meat from his in laws chickens) and I think even the noodles were made fresh. Salad, squash biscuits and fresh bread complete the meal. Following lunch we continue in our silence but a few of us take a hike to explore the grounds. Getting to know a few women from our church was such a blessing. In a new city and in an especially busy season of life it can be hard to make friends and get to know people. Breaking bread, even in silence and worshipping God together...such a special time I will never forget. Most importantly though was the way in which I was renewed, filled up and reminded of God's love for me. He reminded me that even in the day to day I can pause, breathe, give thanks and re-focus myself on Him.
If you ever have a chance to practice silence in this way I highly recommend it. It is healing to the soul. I left feeling so peaceful and joyful, in a way I don't think I ever have before.
Anyhow, about the hermitage...we enter to find our names have been placed on our rooms and what cute rooms they were. In mine was a small bed, desk and chair and on my pillow a chocolate bar with a note that read
"Come away from rush and hurry to the stillness of God's peace; from our vain ambition's worry, come to Christ to find release. Come away from noise and clamor, life's demands and frenzied pace; come to join the people gathered here to seek and find God's face."
I looked out my window to a gravel road, trees and green grass and breathed in deeply. This was exactly what I had been needing. That evening we went down winding stairs to the basement where amazing smells were floating from. We sat together to eat dinner in silence. The man who had prepared the meal explained that we would be having vegetarian chilli with quinoa, cabbage salad, cornbread and cookie bars. He said, "let us remember that food is God's love in edible form". We served ourselves and sat at a table set simply and beautifully with two oil lamps down the center. I watched the flame flicker and imagined it to be the Holy Spirit come to dine with us. For some it might be awkward to eat at a table with others and not speak, intentionally. For me, it was pure bliss. To sit in peace and quiet and eat a warm meal, to savor each bite...I can hardly put it into words. I know they use very good quality ingredients, very fresh produce, but it was if I could taste the love in the food...the love of the Creator but also the love of the hands that prepared it for us. We finished the meal and went upstairs to have evening worship together. Following that was time of silence and contemplation to use however we wanted and then an optional fellowship time before going to bed.
Saturday morning I awake following my first night away since Freija was born. No rushing to take kids to school, and then to work...no grocery shopping to be done...nothing but silence. I go downstairs to have breakfast, everything laid out for us to help ourselves. Fresh coffee, yogurt and granola, fruit or toast. I sit at the table, soft chanting music filling the room and eat my breakfast watching the birds out the window. Peace...stillness...love. I find myself getting emotional from time to time, feeling overwhelmed with love and wondering, why is it so hard to accept God's love? Is it because I know I don't deserve it? Because I have felt distant from Him? By His grace I begin to let go, let it swallow me up. Away from distractions I realize just how many there are. I decide to take Facebook off my phone because it's keeping me from being present, here and now. Time goes so fast, kids grow up and if I blink I'll miss it. I need to be more centered in Jesus and more present.
I walk to the chapel to attend a prayer service led by the hermitage staff. We sit to listen to a reading from Matthew and a poem. Shoes are removed before entering the room, candles are lit. This a sacred time...a holy place. A bell is rung and we begin 20 minutes of silence. It doesn't feel long, but like a deep cleansing breath filling my soul. A poor robin slams into it's reflection in the glass window at least 5 times. The bell rings and we stand to walk in a circle slowly and someone says, "as you face the day do not fight with your own reflection as the robin did, but see the reflection of Jesus Christ in you and in those you encounter today."
Morning worship together again; scripture reading, song and sharing.
They're very intentional here (I write in my journal). I followed a path through the woods that seemed to go no where, then I found myself suddenly in a small open space with tulips and daffodils and two benches spread apart overlooking a green field for contemplation. I walk the path asking the Lord to open my eyes to His beauty, grace, small wonders. For so long I have been distracted, my eyes out of focus. This gift of Sabbath has opened me up, cleared my vision and allowed me to accept His overflowing and abundant peace and love. As I sat in the crisp, clear air of the morning I could hear distant cars, tractors and chirping birds. The sun peeking through the clouds and warming my face. His glory and beauty is all around us, if only we have eyes to see and ears to hear. If only we can pause...breathe...and revel in it.
We return for our final meal together. Lunch is homemade chicken noodle soup (meat from his in laws chickens) and I think even the noodles were made fresh. Salad, squash biscuits and fresh bread complete the meal. Following lunch we continue in our silence but a few of us take a hike to explore the grounds. Getting to know a few women from our church was such a blessing. In a new city and in an especially busy season of life it can be hard to make friends and get to know people. Breaking bread, even in silence and worshipping God together...such a special time I will never forget. Most importantly though was the way in which I was renewed, filled up and reminded of God's love for me. He reminded me that even in the day to day I can pause, breathe, give thanks and re-focus myself on Him.
If you ever have a chance to practice silence in this way I highly recommend it. It is healing to the soul. I left feeling so peaceful and joyful, in a way I don't think I ever have before.
Comments
Post a Comment