“Just doing the spiritual exercises, just putting your butt down there on the chair and saying, ‘Oh God, here I am,’ is enough for me and all the Travelers and God, because you’re saying, ‘I am preparing myself, I am open to receive.’ That’s it.
It’s amazing how many people have got awareness by doing that.” – John-Roger (From booklet in audio packet #3907, Spiritual Exercises: Walking with the Lord, p. 46-47)
For the fourth consecutive year, New England greeted 70+ people to the sacred environment of our annual Spiritual Exercises (SEs) retreat. While this is a regularly publicized event, the sweetness of it seems a secret as those who have come return year after year, requesting the same event, the same support from Spirit, the same embracing of Spring inside us and around us.
The retreat was held as it has been at the Dolce Retreat Center in Norwalk CT with 66 acres of rolling hills, old growth trees, several ponds and walking trails. During SEs in the morning there are birds and crickets, in the evening the gentle stroke of the tree frogs. In between are king size beds for naps and delicious food. One can be as sweet and solitary, or as engaged and lively, as one wishes.
The retreat opened this year with a question to the Traveler about SEs, and the benefits of doing them daily, and the benefits of staying in God consciousness, or devoted consciousness. John Morton shared to the effect that nothing takes the place of putting your butt in the chair, and yet being aware of Spirit as a walking prayer can have tremendous value.
From there, sharings took off about chanting and listening, focusing on grace, and leading life at a much higher quality. We discussed how to prepare a place in SEs to experience God and John told us an engaging story as he introduced our video for Saturday night, #7196 Doubting the Ever Present Christ. At another time, John pointed out to us that as we get closer to the Light, the shadow behind us grows bigger.
Each morning we did SEs, followed often by more SEs or meditations. All this was intermingled by excerpts from John-Roger about SEs – even our most familiar quotes (think 25 years of SE excerpts from the SEs: Walking with the Lord packet) take on new breath when listened to with a large group of people preparing to see God. A few simple words can shift distraction to devotion.
Throughout the weekend John reminded us about letting go and trusting how God bring things forward for us, and to enjoy what we are doing today, to enjoy our life today. Finally, John added that we become a blessing for the world.
From the group that just left, over 60 voiced interest in attending again next year, and we have collected deposits. So, perhaps our secret is now out. However, the sacredness, our immediate connection to God via SEs, remains sacred and ever available to you. See you next year!
In Love and Light,
Leigh Merrihew-Hamel
