Paula and I had an amazing weekend! We attended our sixth annual retreat weekend at the beautiful Priestfield Pastoral Center in West Virginia. Our simple room along the river was lovingly adorned with various religious icons. The priest who gave the retreat to 56 women was a gift. He carefully prepared the weekend retreat for us. The seminars and contemplative Masses explored 4 questions:
- When did you stop telling your story?
- When did you stop sitting in silence?
- When did you stop listening to the music?
- When did you stop dancing?
Father Julio shared with us that our story is the meeting place of God. As a community, we need to make sure that people can tell their story in a safe, nurturing environment. Silence is a place without judgement, a place of great hope. It is where we can listen to our inner voice. Where we can listen to the voice of God. We can ask ourselves when we stopped listening to everything that can only be heard in silence. Our story is sacred scripture. When God looks at us, He sees Himself in us. In silence, we can fall into God. Fall into God. Fall into God.