Nature replenishing beautiful bones
Sighs of surrender.
Immersing into inner space
Immersing into an empty field.
Jasmine sprinkled in the wind – time nonsensical
Soil cradling bare feet walking,
Rain falling, falling down
Igniting Hu man sound.
Sky expanding out and back again
A womb mothering earth, self, home at last.
A spiral of golden string, coiling, stretching
into oneness with everything.
Listening to the devas in the gentle firm breeze
whispering. Touching the ancient wisdom of the serenaded
Trees. Knowing I am home in essence.
Humming birds play in the morning light
Nat flies glistening as they take flight
Laughter spills into the silence, an open heart empty
filling with Gods grace.
Paul Kaye seeded the idea of a silent retreat many years ago alongside Pauli Sanderson at a Living in Grace retreat. Initially the idea of a Silent Retreat was received with less enthusiasm than one may have liked. It was challenging enough for some MSIA folks to keep quiet on 15-min silent breaks during retreat. Silence would have to wait for us to finish talking.
The Silent retreat at Lake Arrowhead became a reality when a small group of devoted MSIA folks joined in on an adventure into the silence. I was excited to see what emerged from the Silence. Lake Arrowhead is a divine space for inner reflection as it holds the energy of the Traveler richly fused into every cell memory.
The energy of willingness, discipleship and synergy was palpable in the Sanctuary as participants, assistants and facilitators settled into our natural rhythm and timing. The Light inside each of us and as a group reminded me of a sacred ceremony where we meet God inside ourselves and then see it in each other often.
We were given an invitation to expand into our essence. The basic selves were taken care of and our Souls came out to play. A spaciousness inside opened up and I could hear the devas laughing and playing with us. I enjoyed the intimacy of non-verbal communication. Our eyes said everything that needed to be said. There was structure with complete flexibility to just be.
In the aloneness the silence became alive in every moment as a oneness beyond what words are able to communicate. There was no need to respond. Life slowed down and time went away except for the occasional gong reminding us that the next exercise was available.
We were courageous in our exploration. The days were filled with inner glory, subtle glances, hugs, smiles, contagious laughter and oneness with God. I ate my food slowly and with awareness of each bite. I gazed out into the sky for what seemed like eternity.
There was nothing to do, nowhere to be and everything to let go and let God orchestrate. There was an awareness of nature; noticing spider webs stretching from stem to stem, the earth pulsing beneath my feet and the morning light coloring the air with sprinkles of fairy dust.
As I am back in the world with lots to participate in, the silence still permeates my day and I feel like I am stepping deeper and deeper inside myself expanded into the world. There is a sense of spaciousness inside that I now go into in my activity. The space between thoughts and words empty my mind and for a moment I remember that God speaks in the silence. The invitation, from the Silent Retreat, to relax into my natural rhythm, an occasion of no-thingness, is a gift appreciated and abundant in my life. My intention is to continue to honor the silence that rejuvenate my cells and connects me to my inner master as I listen to God speak to me.
