If you aren't familiar with the idea of a retreat, it's a chance to slow down, reflect, break away from the day-to-day, examine and learn. In this case the topic is something we are all interested in - "everyday life".
There are 10 minute audio files for each week that you can listen to online, or if you like - download to an mp3 player. There are also forums where people discuss their experiences each week.
The following is a sample from Week 4
"St. Ignatius put it so simply:
We should use God's gifts of creation however they help us in achieving the end for which we were created, and we ought to rid ourselves of whatever gets in the way of our purpose.
In order to do this we must make ourselves indifferent to all creation, to the extent that we do not desire health more than sickness, riches more than poverty, honor more than dishonor, a long life more than a short life, or anything at all in and of itself. We should desire and choose only what helps us attain the end for which we were created.
We all know what a handicap it is to lack the 'indifference,' or balance in our lives Ignatius talks about. When my desire and choice moves in the direction of 'I want my health; I want success; I want to take care of myself; I crave honor and attention,' I know I'm not in much balance and I'm becoming too self-absorbed.
However, when we see someone who seems to be care-free in loving, in giving of themselves, in living freely for others, we are inspired. They seem to have gotten it right."
The idea of "indifference" or "detachment" from material things, success, health, is a tenet of Eastern spritual practice as well. It's interesting that St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, who lived in the 1500's was on to this thought, as was Siddhārtha, who became the Buddha about 1900 years earlier. It's a very Christian, and a very Buddhist, thought to detach oneself from worldly things.
Why would thinking people throughout history be telling us this?
They discovered some things so many of us wish we had - peace, joy, and satisfaction. The beauty of this is that, if you choose, you can work on these spiritual practices from the inside and make them manifest in the world in whatever way you choose. If you decide to detach and become a hermit, or detach and work in an office, or detach and work in a soup kitchen, it really is up to you. They provided you with a compass to free yourself to become who you are.
I was watching a rare interview with an Amish Family not too long ago. I found it fascinating that when asked if they were satisfied with their lives they answered, "yes completely."
How many of us could say that? The Amish know the secret, which they found in the Bible which tells them they are not to be "conformed to the world." (Romans 12:2). They detach from cars, electricity, stores and find peace, joy and satisfaction.
Maybe Rhett Butler got it right when he said, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn." I have my tongue in my cheek but actually - paradoxically - not caring about a lot of ultimately unimportant things allows us to care about some vital few important things. I've had an opportunity in the last year to be around dying people and their families and I can tell you unequivocally that many of the things we think are important on a day-to-day basis, mean absolutely nothing in the long run. No one is talking about how much money they made, how much time they spent at the office, or what kind of car they drove or how big their house was or if they passed that test or got that piece of clothing. What they are concerned with is if they loved and were loved and left a legacy that demonstrates that love, peace and joy to the people that were close to them.
If nothing else the thought that Socrates had that, "An unexamined life is not worth living" must be true.
Wishing you a path to peace, love and joy as this week draws to a close and in the weeks to come as we wait quietly in this Advent season for that "still small voice".
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Postscript: If you have ever wondered where that phrase "still small voice" comes from, it's from a passage in the Old Testament 1 Kings 19:11-12 (King James Version) where the prophet Elijah is looking for the Lord (you could replace Lord with Peace, or the One, or The Answer, or The Source, to fit your particular spiritual practice).
He's waiting -
He's waiting -
11 And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
I also like this translation from the New International Version where the "still small voice" becomes "a gentle whisper".
11 The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.
