Each
week, there will be some practical help to prepare for this week's retreat
and for getting the most from it.
- The
first and most important point is to begin this journey with great
hope and confidence. God is never outdone in generosity.
So, if we make even a small change in our weekly pattern, that is
a tremendous opening for God to work in us. One way to
affirm this hope and confidence is to express it for just a
brief instant, each morning, at the same time each day - as
I'm finding my slippers, or as I'm brushing my teeth, or while I'm
pouring that first cup of coffee - "I know you are with me today,
Lord."
- Each
of us will have a different amount of time we will be able to give
to this retreat each week. We recommend, that if your time is
limited, just checking out each of the links on the right hand column
of the weekly guide. Then, it is possible to return each day
to read or reflect upon one or another resource provided for the week.
In the case of one of the readings or prayers, we might want to print
that to read it again later. Making use of all the resources
will enhance the retreat experience.
- This
week's guide offers us the opportunity to review our life stories
through the photo album of our lives. Throughout these
weeks, we'll make use of the practice, habit, exercise of letting
a reflection or image be part of the background of our day.
All of us are aware, from time to time, that there is stuff that occupies
the background of our consciousness. The song that plays
in our head is a common example. This retreat invites us to
practice taking advantage of this facility our brain has. Rather
than having that space filled at random with stuff that
just comes and goes, we will focus it more consciously.
While doing all the ordinary tasks we do in our everyday lives, we
will be using that background space to give a distinctive tone
to our week. This won't be a distraction to our work,
or take any extra time away from our work, but it will eventually
make a difference in how we experience our work. It just takes
practice.
- Concretely,
for this week, we all know the outline of our story. This isn't
new material. What is new is that I will consciously
be aware that I am reviewing my life story this week. I can
plan it fairly deliberately - as an example: Monday and Tuesday, I
will be remembering the images of my childhood; Wednesday and Thursday,
my teen and early adulthood; Friday and Saturday, the rest of my adult
life. So, throughout Wednesday - as I'm finding my slippers,
driving to work, walking to my first meeting, walking to the restroom,
looking at that image on my monitor, walking to the parking lot, getting
supper ready, sharing a memory with a family member, and while undressing
before going to bed - during all those brief everyday times,
I'll have in the background the formative images that shape
my story during my teen years.
- It's
about feelings. Each picture in my life story
has feeling attached to it. I might look long and hard at that
image of myself on the playground in 5th grade. Feelings
come to the surface if I let them. Or, that picture of
myself in that relationship in my early twenties. We know there
are feelings there. There are powerful feelings associated with
the birth of a child, the death of a loved one, the change of jobs,
terrible family crises, images that come to mind throughout my marriage,
battles with people I've struggled with. My feelings will help
me see and experience how these pictures tell my story,
who I am today.
- It's
about God's fidelity. This isn't a sentimental journey.
With every picture in my story, there is a grace offered me as I look
for God's presence there. If, throughout this week, I imagine
God's having been present there with me - even when I didn't notice
or feel it at the time - that would be a tremendous grace, unifying
my life.
- It's
about gratitude. With every memory, every image and feeling,
practice saying, "thank you." Even the painful ones.
Even if I was not grateful then. Even if it involved some bad
stuff I did to myself or others. The Lord was there, loving
me. Let gratitude now touch and span throughout the story of
my life.
- It's
about a journey. This is only the beginning.
We have 34 weeks. We will move slowly. And, all we need
to do is give God just a little space to transform our every day lives,
a moment at a time.
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