In my reading I came across this statement in Henri Nouwen’s book, “The way of the heart.” (p. 63-64)
The literal translation of the words “pray always” is “come to rest”. . . This rest, however, has little to do with the absence of conflict or pain. It is a rest in God in the midst of a very intense daily struggle.
Good thought to start the day.
Rest and struggle? How does that work?
Must be a God thing!!
As I look out the window this morning, the temperatures are still below zero. Our spring this year has continued on the cold side.
But, the sun is shining. There is a slight breeze and the next few days are forecasted to be warmer.
This week and next have been booked. I will spend time in the car once again. While a great place for quiet and solitude, there is still the constant attention and vigilence that is needed. I wonder how salespeople keep up the pace when traveling thousands of kilometers a week.
I will head to the office to prepare for coming activities. In the midst of all that, I am going to try to practice a sense of solitude and silence. Reading through a book by Henri Nouwen, he reminds me that silence is not always being without words, but in our words having an approach of silence.
A sign of older age is the desire to have less clutter and more space. I want to intentionally work through my house. In three short months there will be the clutter of two homes molded into one. Better to have less than to have so much that you despair of knowing what to do with it all.
And so, my week begins – with a few things in mind! This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
One friend of mine never uses the word “retreat” for a refreshing time away. I understand that. I hope to come away with an “advance” instead of a retreat.
And so the last few days are more an advance than a retreat! There are things that needed to be done. Things that needed to be caught up on. Things that were unexpected. Things that led to refreshment.
Invitations for our upcoming wedding needed to be completed and addresses confirmed. Registrations and incoming emails needed to be dealt with. And, blessing of blessings, I was able to attend a Bible study on prayer – I had been following the group through email and reading of a study guide – now I got to actually sit down with other participants and interact.
And so, driving back today I was thankful. This retreat had been a treat. May there be many more to come. In keeping my own health, I am hoping to be able to serve others without killing myself!
Winter has been long for many people. The stories have to go back to ’55 – ’56 to get the same type of sense of longevity. In that year, one farm lady said their vehicle sat in the garage from November – May. They were unable to release the vehicle from the snow!
I think some people feel like they have been unable to be released from snow. There are cases of mild depression (and even severe depression). A day of sunshine does amazing things.
What is often needed is to find a time in the midst of our days to come to solitude and silence and prayer before God. I’m reading a book by Henri Nouwen that emphasizes this approach. As I continue through the book, I see my own need to look “over” the snow, to look “through” the busyness and to find time for retreat.
I am hoping in the next few days to do just that. I have been clearing my schedule. Aside from the close connections that need to be maintained as a part of daily life, the schedule can be moved. And perhaps my location will need to be moved.
In the end, the goal is not to leave life, but to encounter life. I trust that you also, those who are in the midst of the same season of the year as I am, might find time to refresh. Perhaps not a retreat, but a refocusing of your thoughts on God. Perhaps not time off, but time spent in depth of thought and not worry or anxiety.
May God give to you a refreshing.