Tried to send off some info earlier in the day and the computer went psycho just before it sent.
Ended up taking a slide picture of the screen as it wouldn't let me send, copy or save.
Arrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
So I have done a hand copy to my sometime journal, and finally retyping.
Computers do have a lot to answer for. Hope your day was fine and you had a chance to look around.
It is something I have been doing more of.
Walks along the Shiraz trail and wanders around Willunga.
Have been meaning to write about my recent experience at a silent retreat, run by Roy's retreat.
This was a one day retreat held at St Martin's by the Sea.
Sounds so English, doesn't it.
As a coincidence I have just read a book that had the place St Martin's in it - in Guernsey, off the coast of England & France.
The book was the Guernsey Potatoe Peel Pie Literary Society.
Which I have a copy of, it's a bit old worlde, another time, just after world war two.
But I am digressing(!)
Going to the retreat I was in a rush as usual, looking for the right street in Port Noarlunga, found the place and wrangled a park.
By the way Google maps is way off on the distance on this one.
Busied myself to register and eventually looked around to the most stunning view across the sea.
It was a striking sight as it was such a bright day reflecting off the water.
Felt like we were on a ledge way up high.
The day focused on the mystic Charles de Foucauld, who was a French man of noble birth.
I cannot work out the correct pronunciation of his name. Never the less he had a life that is still being talked about today.
A virtual hermit, he lived in the desert of Morocco in very primitive conditions.
He literary wore his heart on his sleeve as he had it printed on his clothing, with the symbol of the cross.
Mystics are said to be in a love relationship with God and aware of God being in a mutual love relationship
with them i.e. they experience God being present in all things at all times.
Also described as being in union with God or in oneness.
There was time during the day for silent reflection and communing with God.
Being silent, I'll admit is not something that comes naturally to me(!)
But I relish the time to stop for awhile.
There is a wonderful atmosphere of peace there.
I am experimenting with having my own little space of reflection in my house.
A candle, photos and special memento's collected from all over.
I know God is all around in the hub-bub of domestic chaos. But sometimes we are too busy to realise this.
A found definition of a retreat from Stephanie Dowrick.
A "retreat" literally means retreating from our usual concerns and the usual ways we approach and think about them. Reading can also provide a version of retreat,
especially when it takes us to what Rilke called "the deepest things". The crucial thing is making time, also for the reflections & inspirations that always arise.
Changes the way we then interact with our multiple social environments. Journal writing also part of this for many: discovering what you need to know, as you write.
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