Spiritually dry

Sometimes we get to the point where we are really dry. We have worked so hard in ministry, but we feel strangely disconnected from the Lord. How do we re-connect?
How do we remind ourselves that we are living in His presence? What can we do to deepen our understanding of God's love for us?

We talk about all of these questions at The Springs Retreat -- and we have the privilege of leading women in experiencing some of the protestant spiritual exercises that have been so helpful like journaling, reflection, lectio divina, rule of life, prayers of confession and relinquishment, silence, and solitude.

In chapter 58, Isaiah tells the people that God doesn't want all of their religious exercises -- he wants their heart -- he wants their love for him to be demonstrated in a true fast -- acts of compassion and social justice. Then, he says, "their light will rise in the darkness." The theme verse for The Springs is the next verse (Isaiah 58:11)."The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." It's amazing how refreshed we feel when we stop all of our "religious" activity, spend time letting the truth of God's love soak into our heart, falling in love with Him all over again, seeing his hand in our lives and hearing his call, and simply attending, listening to Him.

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Reflection

I just learned that the stations of the cross come to us from the early Christians living in Jerusalem at the time of Christ's crucifixion. Obviously, the people who were there that day talked about what happened and each of them saw Jesus' procession from where he was sentenced to where he was crucified. As pilgrims came to Jerusalem, people would walk them down the route and tell their stories. Christians weren't allowed to publically worship along the route, but in twos and threes they would walk the route on Easter and remember. Over the years, Christian pilgrims would come to Jerusalem and would want to be shown the sites,so the monks would show them. Travel was expensive and as Muslims controlled the city, worship of Christ wasn't easy. Finally, someone got the idea to recreate the sites in Europe...and the stations of the Cross were born. St. Anthony's has lovely statues and place to reflect on Christ's life and passion.

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