Spring is upon us, and for many of us, the season brings more pleasant temperatures and the growth of new plant life in the natural world. While most of us don’t have time to go on a long retreat, here are some ideas for taking an hour or two on a mini-retreat with God.
Whichever option you choose, set aside a period of time and turn off the cell phone. This is ideal if you are able to be alone for the retreat period, but the first option works for busy parents as well.
nature walk
Visit places of natural beauty, walk at a leisurely pace and pay attention to your surroundings. Let go of thoughts and worries and simply join the beauty of the plants, flowers, sky, animals and anything else you encounter. You can say a short prayer to thank the creator of all these products. At the end of the walk, sit somewhere comfortable, and consider your own well-being and that you, too, were created by God—in God’s own image. Thank God for that. (If you have young children with you, invite them to observe and share with you what they see in the natural world around them. Make this a collaborative time of prayer.)
Imaginative prayer
Choose a comfortable, private place. Choose a Gospel passage to pray with, perhaps from Sunday’s lesson, or one that resonates with your personal experience at the moment. Begin, as St. Ignatius suggests, by placing yourself in the presence of God. Notice how Jesus looks at you with love. Read the passage slowly, close the Bible, and then allow yourself to imagine the scene. Pay attention to the sights, sounds, and textures of the story world. Allow the story to unfold and even go “off-script”. Where are you in the story? How does Jesus work? How do others present work? When the story seems to be running its course, end the prayer session. Then journal about the experience, writing as a way to share the experience with Jesus, Mary, or a favorite saint. Write about what you felt and what comforting moments (such as peace, freedom, or comfort) felt like. Was there a place you felt God giving you insight? Pray for these moments and write about them.
Creativity is inspired by significant objects
If you enjoy the creative arts, choose an object that has spiritual significance to you and take time to draw, paint, compose music, or otherwise engage creatively with it. For example, perhaps a beloved religious icon, a gift from a treasured family member or friend, or a symbol of an important moment or memory. Use art as an opportunity to pray and stay with what the object means to you now. Offer your creation to God as you work and let God be present to you in the process. The point here is to pray, not observe. I’m not a very talented watercolor artist, but I enjoy sketching watercolors for myself, no pressure to perform well. Perhaps you would prefer to take a colored pen and write words or sentences that express the thought or image of your prayer. At the end of the prayer time, put art and objects aside, close your eyes and consider where God has appeared to you during this time of prayer. What do you want to say to Allah? What does God want you to say in return?
For other ideas for a home retreat, read on Invitation to Love: A Personal Retreat in the Great Commandment By William Barry, SJ, OR First Long to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis By Austen Ivereigh.
