Retreat

I’ve spent the better part of this weekend on a retreat sponsored by a Catholic church.  For some of you, this might seem predictable.  For others, this might be hard to believe.  It probably depends on when and where we’ve known each other.

I should start by saying that it was a fabulous experience, and I thank the parishioners of St. Aloysius in Bowling Green for making it all possible through their planning and volunteering.  My experience is entirely due to their service and sacrifice.

So, what’s blog worthy in this story.  “What happens on retreat stays on retreat,” so I can only ethically share self-perspectives (which seems fitting for a blog).

The biggest thing that stands out is that we reap what we sow, and that includes humor.  I was very appreciative of the letters I received from family and friends during the retreat, especially because they all were infused with humor.  I’ve been on many retreats in my life, and I was very pleased to spend more time laughing than crying on this one!

I can also say that I have renewed my spiritual focus, which remains untethered to any specific religious doctrine.  While this does leave me detached from the kind of community experienced by many Christians, it permits me to live every day knowing that I am not falsely impersonating a believer of religious “truths”.  For now, I am grateful for the values of love, respect, justice, and community instilled within me through family and Church; I am also happy to shamelessly hold my beliefs within those values, even those which conflict with the Church that helped raise me.

I realize this posting is very unspecific, but I think that’s how it must be for now.  I am happy to have experienced love this weekend, and I look forward to sharing that love forward.

Shalom (peace, prosperity, and harmony be with all of us).