retreat 101 - slow it down

150kms North of Perth, I am on retreat at New Norcia.

Love been here - it is quiet, ordered and offers space for reflection, and of course, prayer.
But I am finding that this time, it is hard to settle in.
I suspect this is the result of a frenetic first week at school,
and some of the  inner stuff that I came here to address.

The pervading questions I have on my mind are "Where am I heading" and "Whats next?"

This is not the first time for these query's however.

In the past they generally led to a change of job, and in a big move, to joining the Catholic Church.
This feels slightly different.

I love my job, the many different people I work with, and the personal growth that come out of these close relationships. I couldn't imagine a better place for me right now.

I love my family and social life. My immediate family are incredible, and my friends faithful and life-giving.

I think I am talking about vision.  Maybe I am asking:

What is my legacy?
Have I actually bought something to this world?
I am becoming the man that I think I need to be?

I am Benedictine enough to not rush into easy answers to these questions.
Sitting with them in the light of scripture, of tradition, of others wisdom will help.

So will not taking them too seriously!

Strange journey this life . . . .

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mad Men 101

Thanks to a conservative blog for peace I have become quite intrigued by with US series “Mad men”. For most Australians this is quite an unknown program, the second series being premiered this Sunday night on specialized broadcaster SBS, leaving us well behind the US which is currently airing the fourth series. For those who don’t know, Mad Men takes place in the early 1960’s, varying its setting between the main characters Advertising office workspace, their homes and social lives. As the series progresses we discover that the characters are not at all what they seem, both outwardly and inwardly, as we journey with them through the historical events and changing social patterns which have influenced so much of our modern culture. It is this historical element which captured me. The ways husbands, wives and children inter-related. The constant smoking and drinking. The more relaxed pace of life. Infidelity and the subsequent risks and consequences. Psycho-analysis just beginning ...
Read more

december heart

my soul is tired but my hands want to keep being busy my mind restless but full of plans the days of christmas and summer stretch before me like fresh paper a beach in winter a monks cell these days of opportunity a paradox to not do: is to heal is to just be: frustrating leaving the year behind and moving forward a challenge. Sleep. Wine. Silence. Prayer. Zen. Friends. Walks. Love. My solution.
Read more

Spiritual Friends - Henri Nouwen

Image
I thought I might write a short series of posts about Spiritual Friends - those writers and people who have influenced my spiritual growth and contributed to my search for God. Henri Nouwen, the Dutch Catholic  priest,  was the first writer who really captured my imagination about what it meant to be a spiritual being and take the search for God seriously.  I can see my life in both before and after discovering Nouwen stages! My dad suggested I read "Genesee Diary: Report from a Trappist Monastery" with the words. "I think you'll like this. If you do you won't be able to put it down and then you'll want to read all his books!". He was right. I counsumed the book in about two days and then began buying/borrowing/scrounging for more! Loads has been written about Nouwen, and you can get lots of information from the society website. His personal influence in my life really falls into three  - disciplines, community, and freedom.  Disciplines : Henri was big...
Read more