LOVE, Kloudiia

It’s the 3Rs – RCIA Retreat of Reflection.

That was where I spent my last weekend. If you are wondering why aren’t there any posts for the last 2 days, that’s because I have been spending some private time with God. And later after the retreat, some much needed time with a long time friend – my bed. Gosh, with all my preparations for my book launch, I literally plunged at every single chance when I can take some forty winks.

Now, I’m back to work!

Do you remember my first retreat? You may like to read my thoughts again:

My Retreat Harvest Part 1 – The Hero’s Journey

My Retreat Harvest Part 2 – My Footprints

This retreat was far better than I expected, and a much deeper introspection was achieved as compared to the first one.

I guess the amount of time given to us to reflect on our prayers did help. It’s not so much of the activities that were planned, but more of those “inactivities” that gave us the chance to be silent, to sit there and speak to God. Most importantly, also to hear Him speak to us, like what Father Joe told us.

We always have a “shopping list” as what a fellow parishoner Leonard said. We ask God for a better relationship, bigger house, posher car, a more high-flying career, more outstanding academic results, to be prettier, fitter… you name it, I guess probably you’ve prayed and asked for it at certain stages of your life.

Well, there is nothing wrong. For God told us that “Ask and you shall receive“.

But after we have asked, shouldn’t we also accord this Lord who have been listening to us all this while some silent moments, to listen to what He has to say to us?

This was what the retreat was all about. To listen, and to reflect.

I loved those moments of silence. It has become such a treasure living in a modern world like now, where you will be bombarded with all sorts of noise wherever you go. People’s chatter, the music from the nearby shop, the sound of cars horning, the tattering of walking feet etc.

Here, we found silence. But, we weren’t alone.

I especially liked the session on the first night after dinner. We were all in the presence of God. The Eucharist, which repreents the body of Christ was presented and laid before all of us, as we sat down in a circle surrounding Him. We lifted up all our worries, anxiety, pains and heartaches to Him. We asked Him to heal us, to give us the direction, to give us wisdom, courage and strength to face all of lives’ challenges and to remain faithful and truthful to our Lord, and to ourselves.

We also said our thanks to Him and all those in our lives whom we are grateful for.

We were there to find peace, to strengthen our faith. To prepare for our coming baptism.  

I’m not sure if all of us who were at the retreat got this. I know I did. And I know my team mates did too.

Never had we done so much worshipping and praying all in two days. Instead of feeling bored, we actually enjoyed it so much more. I guess we really are prepared – mentally, emotionally and lastly, spiritually to begin our journey of faith in this religion.

Taize – where unity is found 

It was also during this retreat that most of the Elects, including me, got to know about a special group of people – Taize. Founded and led by Brother Roger, he united all Christians from every and any denomination and Catholics to come together and do only one simple yet purposeful thing – to pray and worship God.

No longer does the different teachings of the faith matters. Only our hearts matter. They will sing hymns, and they will pray, followed by a long period of silence. Leonard showed us a sample of what they do at Taize during the retreat – also another session which I enjoyed immensely.

Through the hymns we allow ourselves to settle down and to listen to our hearts.

This really was a retreat through and through. No games were played this time. Only prayers and reflections.

A tiny advice for you

Isn’t this something we all need and should do every once in a while? To escape from the urban’s noise and to enter into the nature’s serenity. To meditate. To find some parts of us that had gone missing or were lost. To reconnect with those parts. To become whole again.

Our hearts do have much to tell us – only if we allow the silence for us to listen. For it speaks so softly, and unhurriedly…

[tags]retreat, RCIA, baptism, prayer, reflection, silence, introspection, journey, faith[/tags]