Uncovering what's underneath

All the world needs to go on a Retreat! I am convinced!

When we don't take time to disconnect from the world and reconnect with God, we are off-kilter. I've noticed more and more people saying they are having trouble remembering things — important things like friends' birthdays, appointments, promises to pray; and smaller things like the day of the week, the conversation from last week, etc.

Personally, I think it has a lot to do with our overloaded intake of noise and information. So many people walk around constantly plugged in with voices, songs, news, podcasts, etc., jamming more information into their ears. Do you turn on the radio as soon as you get into the car and turn on the TV as soon as you get home? There is such a thing as too much. You need a Retreat every now and then!

You may say, but I'm listening to spiritual talks and songs, and podcasts on the Bible and

Rosary, so it's enriching. You may say, it's just background noise, so it's harmless.

Think of a houseplant. It needs water to grow and thrive. But if you are constantly pouring water into its soil, the poor thing can't absorb it all. The life-giving water no longer serves its intended purpose. Instead, it depletes the oxygen in the soil and suffocates the plant at its roots.

A plant needs a break from being filled, so that it can absorb the goodness and let the living water be transported to the core of its being. Only then will it grow and reach its full potential and purpose.

Likewise with us! When we keep filling up with more information, what's most important can get buried underneath. There is vast medical evidence that a lack of oxygen to the brain significantly affects our memory. Our brains and our bodies need a break from being filled, so that our souls can absorb God's goodness and let His Living Water reach our innermost being. The calm and stillness is where we find Him at our core, and only then can we grow in certainty that He is with us. Only then can we fully surrender our lives to Him and grow in His plan and purpose.

I recently had the privilege to go on two significant Retreats ~

💖 One with my super sibling sisters by birth.

🧡 The other with my wonderful writing sisters by blessing.

(Here are a few highlight photos of the Retreat Centers.)

This was the first retreat my sibling sisters and I had ever made together, and it was also our first Healing Retreat. It was held on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the beautiful Our Lady of Hope Retreat Center in Chatawa, MS. (A serene and holy space with lots to see and experience to fill your heart.) My sisters and I bonded more closely; we laughed, cried, sang, worshipped, explored, and prayed over one another for both spiritual and physical healing. Each of us felt healed, in our hearts as we grew closer to Our Lord through the Blessed Mother, in our relationship with one another, and in our physical ailments. Sickness became less of a burden.

How often do we actually lay hands on someone we love and pray God's healing and help over them? We need to do this often! It is powerful, and it brings reconciliation, healing, and immense love into our lives. Don't we all need more of that???

This was the eighth retreat for my writing sisters. I was unable to go last year due to my cancer surgery, and it was so good to be back with them in person. This gathering is always one of creativity, inspiration, prayer, sharing, love, and healing. It was held at the beautiful Nazareth Retreat Center in Nazareth, KY. (Also, a serene and holy space with lots to see and experience to fill your heart.) We gathered in a sacred circle of trust and support, enjoyed all of our meals together, spoke and listened with our hearts, responded with beautiful and inspiring writing, prayed, sang, laughed, cried, explored the surrounding gifts of nature, and took time to rest every day. We grew closer to each other, our true selves, and our Creator God.

How often do we take time away to explore God's creation, seeing it anew, pondering our innermost thoughts, understanding them anew, and making time to rest our bodies? We need to do this often! It is powerful, and it brings peace, healing, and understanding of God's immense love into our lives. Don't we all need more of that???

When was the last time you participated in a guided Spiritual Retreat — withdrawing to a quiet place, stepping away from familiar circumstances to rest, relax, and reconnect with God? Doing so uncovers the outward self that lives on the surface level to dwell in what's underneath in the deeper self. The result is clarity, inner peace, release from pressures and fears, recovery from hurts and broken relationships, and a renewed sense of purpose and meaning in one's life. — Find a Retreat and go! There are so many available.

Who doesn't need such a time as this?

No one is exempt from benefiting!

Imagine if all leaders, starting with world leaders, were required to make an Annual Spiritual Retreat guided by a wise and loving person. All information would be held in confidence as they uncover what they are working toward and what they are hiding behind, to reveal what lies underneath at the core of their being. First and foremost, they are a beloved child of God. Imagine if people with global influence took time to reflect on that truth, what it means to who they truly are, and what they are called to do in their position; things would change. Imagine if the most widely known public figures were gently called to walk through the pain and suffering caused by their decisions and actions; their perspective would change. Imagine if those who wreak havoc on the vulnerable had to sit in a sacred circle with those whom they oppress or disagree with, look each other in the eyes, and quietly listen to each other's stories; things would change. Imagine if we all stopped accepting hurtful language and actions as 'just the way things are now' — our world would be very, very different.

Who doesn't agree it's time for humanity to do better and be better? No one is exempt from the danger of growing Global Apathy!

CONSIDER

What is underneath their anger and bitterness? Uncover that before responding.

What is underneath their acts of violence and hatred? Uncover that before condemning.

What is underneath their forceful exercise of power? Uncover that before following.

What is underneath our desire to withdraw and turn away? Uncover that in the silence.

What is underneath our lack of hope for the world? Uncover that in the prayer.

What is underneath our tendency to deflect and blame others? Uncover that in reflection.

What is underneath our overpacked minds and schedules? Uncover what is being shut out.

What is underneath our hurt, fear, and worry? Uncover what is being avoided.

What is underneath our feelings of helplessness to end world hunger, cancer, disease, suicide, school violence, church violence, murder, verbal and physical abuse, poverty, abortion, bullying, narcissism, hate, homelessness, evil, indifference, dementia, mental health challenges, addiction, healthcare disparities, corruption, misinformation, disinformation, and on and on and on? Uncover what can be done and be purposeful in working toward what is good, healthy, and helpful in your surrounding community.

Uncovering the veil over our hearts.

Last week, we heard in the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31, Jesus telling the story of the rich man who didn't listen to the great prophets and look underneath his very doorstep to uncover what he could do to help those in need in his community. This Sunday, we will hear Jesus tell us in Luke 17:5-10 that we have this unfathomably plentiful gift of Faith, Hope, and Love available to each one of us. With God, we have the power to uproot what is in the way to uncover Truth and Goodness, yet He says we don't even trust the smallest seed of His power to bring about change in our world.

You may be like me, praying and praying and praying for something very specific. We may not see that healing granted, relationship reconciled, or that need satisfied. But if we really are believing, believing, believing; praying, praying, praying; and trusting, trusting, trusting — we will think, speak, and act differently. We will do better and be better humans, more like the image and likeness of Jesus Christ.

Let us uncover that great Truth and start living in the Graces that lie underneath!

Lord, You give us life though we walk amid affliction; You stretch out Your hand against the anger of our foes. With Your right hand You save us; the Lord will accomplish this for us. O Lord, Your merciful love is eternal; discard not the work of Your hands. (Psalm 138)

We have to Believe, Pray, Trust, and Act.

Blessings to all on the Journey.