Unique graced stories

Grace and Gift

A retreat with this theme somehow attracted nine ladies who gave the Lord their time today, a Saturday, a 'day off', that might well have been spent some other way, in order to commune with Him. Their generous gift of their time and more so, of themselves to the Lord did not go unrewarded. As they journeyed through the suggested prayer exercises, they found a deepening of their desire to grow in relationship with the Lord, knowing that it is through that foundational relationship, that they would be able to touch the lives around them. It was a first time for a number of them, and yet, I noticed that the times of 'personal prayer' - an hour long each time, were not as daunting as I thought they might be. In fact, I noticed that some took a little longer and were in no hurry to get back at regrouping time.

The focus today was to ask God to grant firstly a deep appreciation of and gratitude for his grace in their lives ("Praying my graced story"). And secondly, for God to grant each one a deepened self-knowledge, our personhood being God's gift to us for the world ("My giftedness: seeing myself as God sees me"). Through their openness, the indwelling Spirit was given much room to move, to touch, refresh and to heal.

My joy comes from seeing my dear friends' deep desire to connect with the Lord, and with seeing the Lord's life giving waters, flowing in their hearts. I believe this is one step, even if a small one, further on the journey to integrate head and heart. A journey towards wholeness and being at 'home' with the Lord who dwells within. We worship a God who is both transcendent and immanent. The transcendence of God is more easily appreciated. His immanence, his being so much within us is something that takes times to embrace.

Each person's journey is unique. I am amazed each time at how the Lord is working in each one's life. I am truly thankful for my dear friends' openness in sharing 'where they are', as in doing so, they share the blessed bread of communion.