silent retreat

the small group retreat i attended over the weekend included 5 hours of silent meditation as part of our programme.

from the time of sharing we had after the 5 hours, i gathered that everyone went home with something personal and spiritually enriching.

for me, it was a good idea to set time aside to meditate. and meditate here does not mean sitting arms akimbo "om-ing". we had a proper facilitation session to be briefed on what christian medition means. we were also given 2 main things to think about; our spiritual story and psalms 139.

i always thought that i would learn only from interactive discussions. the 5 hours was not difficult because i am in a habit of reflecting and consolidating my thoughts. it wasn't a sensational experience for me, but it does not mean that it wasn't benefitial.

1) it allocated me time to recount my spiritual story which i took a good 2 hours to compose. (which i will post in 4 parts).

2) i was reminded that christians do not have to sensationalize every devotional session. God does everything for a specific reason and will not abitrarily provide spiritual highs for the sake of it. on the other hand, we need to be certain that every prayer we utter and every bible verse we read makes a difference in the spiritual realm and has eternal value, even if it is not evident now.

thoughts on silence
(adapted from wesley methodist church, small group leader's retreat-me & my boat by alfred quah)

in silence i don't have to discuss, defend and debate. instead, i can better pay attention to inner ones.

silence means those who are verbal and dominate conversations are now equal as the shy.

silence teaches me to wait - pray rather than talk - to turn to the Father first rather than last.

silence makes me look and listen, see and smell - to pay attention to what is going on around me, rather than thinking of what next to say, where next to be, what next to do.

silence imparts reverence and peacefulness. it is infectious - our tranquility reaches out and comforts in ways that words do not.