In physical training, rest is as important as the exercise to promote muscle recovery and to prevent injury. Often I’ll practice active rest on my off days so I’m stretching, waking, cycling or doing something lighter that uses muscles in a different way. Other days I do nothing physical at all which is important as well.
Recently, I was able to go away for spiritual rest on a silent retreat with four friends; it was truly a gift to step out of the busyness and distractions of everyday life with a few days of open time to pray and reflect on life in a very special way, with special friends, and in a special setting.
The retreat location was The Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, Kentucky and it was the first visit for each of us. With the prompting of a friend, we selected a fall weekend to go and rest in a silent, self-guided retreat with the Trappist Monks. You may be wondering how five women were silent on retreat! We did eat together and talk at meals, and we had one nature walk together, and a couple moments of sharing outside under the stars before bed time, but for the most part, Friday through Monday was gloriously silent.
Retreat participants are welcome to join the Trappist Monks for their Liturgy of the Hours throughout the day and night and they offered daily Mass and Confession. Joining the monks in prayer was both powerful and peaceful for me and gave a welcome rhythm and inspiration to each day. For me, the time in prayer with the monks was as impactful as the silent, alone time.
Each of us spent our days in different ways, but we were blessed with warm and beautiful weather, so getting out in nature was restorative and opened us up to prayer in new ways. We explored the many acres of trails and ponds, with visits to statues and Stations of the Cross, a stump, a bench, a hillside, or a hidden spot in the woods became a welcome resting spot for prayer — walking (or running) the trails was also a time of prayer.
No running for me as I felt called to move slowly and to listen and rest in the Lord. Reading Scripture, praying the Rosary, reading a good Thomas Merton book (this was his place for 27 years) talking to God about life’s joys and challenges, giving thanks for the many blessings and to just be — without feeling guilty about it — was freeing. I give thanks that there are still places of stillness available to the laity for a much needed spiritual rest.
The retreat made me determined to carve out more combined nature and prayer time in my daily life and I’ve been better at doing that since I’ve been home. There were some close moments to God for each of us, and in fact, we shared some of that with each other, and a few of us admitted that we are still processing the experience well after our visit to Gethsemani.
St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) said, “God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need.”
To rest in the Lord is truly a gift. To put the phone away, nap, walk, pray, think, reflect, write, give thanks, and to simply receive from the Lord renewed me body, mind and soul.
Jesus tell us, “Come to me, all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest.” How often do we really do it? Consider this an invitation to rest in the Lord in a special way some time soon to be renewed and strengthened.