I did stay up late reading and taking notes and listening to what God, the Bible and myself were all telling me. So I did not get up at 0530 for Vigils and Lauds. Not that I had planned on it. I'm a bit of a night owl.
I did let myself sleep in a little but I made sure to get up and breakfast. It was a beautiful morning, though perhaps a little drizzly and slightly cloudy.
After the continental breakfast, I went back to my room for the last couple hours I had it before check out. Mostly read and listened. The previously mentioned thoughts, notes and epiphanies occurred over both days.
Check out time was 11am but I didn’t have to leave the grounds or anything. I wandered down the hall and plopped down into one of the quiet rooms. It had a great view of some of the grounds and the cute little gazebo out front. I did some reading but I also studied the views. One of the forms of meditation Foster mentioned in Celebration is meditating upon creation.
I have to say I think I’ve already done this on many occasions. I enjoy the outdoors very much. It inspires me and excites me and enthralls me. Some of my best poems are about nature. Some of my best photos are landscapes or water.
Not only was the hawk flying high above the trees beautifully but he was soaring. I could see he was just coasting on some wind drafts. He circled around a number of times, so much I lost count. Then he swooped up and over a different tree and then swooped down a bit and then he actually had to flap his wings and he sailed out of my view.
It reminded me very much of a some verses in the Bible that speak of soaring like eagles, or soaring on the wings of eagles.
I enjoyed lunch and the view. Then I sat outside drinking in the quiet and taking some quick shots of the church. But it was cloudy. So I just sat and waited. Sure enough patience paid off and the sun came out and brilliantly lit up the Abbey.
It was a great note to end the retreat on. (Well that a quick stop at the gift shop. I budgeted $100 for the retreat and only spent $76 on room & board. So I got a magnet and a few little Christmas gifts. It was nice buying some things that the monks make to support them.)
Well that officially wraps up the retreat. I know I want to plan another one for the future but my budget tells me I should wait until 2010 for the next one to St. Meinrad.
Tune in tomorrow for thoughts on rest. And my lack of knowing how to do that.
I did let myself sleep in a little but I made sure to get up and breakfast. It was a beautiful morning, though perhaps a little drizzly and slightly cloudy.
After the continental breakfast, I went back to my room for the last couple hours I had it before check out. Mostly read and listened. The previously mentioned thoughts, notes and epiphanies occurred over both days.
Check out time was 11am but I didn’t have to leave the grounds or anything. I wandered down the hall and plopped down into one of the quiet rooms. It had a great view of some of the grounds and the cute little gazebo out front. I did some reading but I also studied the views. One of the forms of meditation Foster mentioned in Celebration is meditating upon creation.
I have to say I think I’ve already done this on many occasions. I enjoy the outdoors very much. It inspires me and excites me and enthralls me. Some of my best poems are about nature. Some of my best photos are landscapes or water.
The heavens declare the glory of God;So I spent awhile admiring and studying the view. It rained off and on while I was watching. It was windy off and on. The trees danced. There were so many wonderful creatures outside. The most wonderful sight was this hawk.
the skies proclaim the work or his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the earth.
Psalms 19:1-4
Not only was the hawk flying high above the trees beautifully but he was soaring. I could see he was just coasting on some wind drafts. He circled around a number of times, so much I lost count. Then he swooped up and over a different tree and then swooped down a bit and then he actually had to flap his wings and he sailed out of my view.
It reminded me very much of a some verses in the Bible that speak of soaring like eagles, or soaring on the wings of eagles.
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint
Isaiah 40:31
Praise the Lord, O my soul;When I finally tore myself away and went to lunch in the dining hall, no one was there yet. Even though it looked like the food was ready I sat down and did some reading while occasionally glancing out at the new view. From the dining hall, you can see the Abbey very well. It was so pretty.
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalms 103:1-5
I enjoyed lunch and the view. Then I sat outside drinking in the quiet and taking some quick shots of the church. But it was cloudy. So I just sat and waited. Sure enough patience paid off and the sun came out and brilliantly lit up the Abbey.
It was a great note to end the retreat on. (Well that a quick stop at the gift shop. I budgeted $100 for the retreat and only spent $76 on room & board. So I got a magnet and a few little Christmas gifts. It was nice buying some things that the monks make to support them.)
Well that officially wraps up the retreat. I know I want to plan another one for the future but my budget tells me I should wait until 2010 for the next one to St. Meinrad.
Tune in tomorrow for thoughts on rest. And my lack of knowing how to do that.
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