I returned last night from my annual 3-day silent retreat. No talking, no electronics, at an old countryside estate in suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul.
It is spiritual in nature.
It is also spirituality in nature.
In addition to the many talks and prayer/reflection periods, the campus rests upon several acres along a lake. So, stop and smell the roses, so to speak. Or, in my case yesterday morning, notice the intricacies in the ice—of how water freezes (and unfreezes and re-freezes)—manifestations of nature's exhalations atop a Minnesota lake in these unique conditions.
Being a Catholic is not required to attend this retreat put on by the Jesuit Order (I'm in this category). But it is the framework through which you'll realize that the beauty here isn't just awe-inspiring nature. It's also a spirit-lifting gift from a loving Creator.
