Be still, and
the world is bound to turn herself inside out to entertain you.
Everywhere you
look, joyful noise is clanging to drown out quiet desperation.
High Tide
in Tucson, by Barbara
Kingsolver
When I was a youngster, I absolutely loved going to camp.
There was something surreal about the experience, and the setting. I loved the
connection to God I felt there. I felt that same thing last week as June 16-18,
2012, I was able to attend a three-day meditation retreat. We arrived on
Saturday shortly after lunch. My dear friend, Claudia Mierau, has been
attending this particular meditation retreat for about nine years. She and I
were assigned to the same room so we brought in our luggage, and Claudia showed
me around, introducing me to others she has known over the years. I had the
sense that we were all a bit like children in our excitement and anticipation.
The retreat was held at The Emrich Retreat Center at
Parishfield—nestled among 5,000 acres of state park land in Brighton, Michigan.
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| The Emrich Retreat Center at Parishfield in Brighton, Michigan. |
We gathered for an opening session in the meditation hall (held in the chapel),
and each person introduced him- or herself, sharing a bit about our meditation
experience, and telling if we had previously attended this specific retreat.
There was a wonderful mix of newbies and veterans, and I found some of the
stories of what brought each of us there very touching. Easy conversation was
shared over dinner—especially sweet as we all knew that once we entered the
evening gathering we would all be in "noble silence" for the balance
of the retreat. Being silent allows you to have your concentration on
your practice of mindfulness as you walk, shower, open and close doors, do our
work assignments, etc. I am not new to the practice of silence, but this was
the largest group (maybe 50 people) and the longest time frame (3 days), and I
found it to be a welcome and wonderful gift to body, mind, and spirit.
During the interview process with the teachers, I was
given the suggestion of focusing especially on walking meditation during the
free-time for practice. I was blessed to enjoy my practice in a marvelous
labyrinth in the meadow near our dorm.
One of the
first "lessons" came as I watched a bee drawing nectar from a
buckhorn. In my mind, I was aware of the way I have experienced jealousy when
other teachers have audience and fame. It was as though I was aware of an
intrinsic knowing of the bee as to where to be. Deep peace came to my heart as
I let that truth seep into my wounded perspectives of not being recognized or
valued. Each awareness blessed me more and more deeply as the silence allowed
me to witness my own inner states with compassion.
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| According to the chef, the labyrinth was home to fourteen varieties of dragonflies! |
One exercise was particularly profound. To see beyond the
mundane, we were encouraged to look
with defocused eyes or if we wore them to take off our glasses. I took my
glasses off and spent the next hour walking in the labyrinth with that soft
focus, seeing just the outlines of shapes and colors (big picture), rather than
being focused on the details.
When I got to the center, I put my glasses back
on and the beauty of the detail of the wildflowers nearly took my breath away!
I came away from my time at Emrich with a profound sense
of inner peace. I will do my best to recall the experiences I had there and to
make time to practice that holy awareness every day. What gift you give to the
world when you can do that... and what gift you receive!
