“Come Away and Rest“
By Krystal Montgomery
It is suggested that we as Catholics should go on retreat every year. Amidst the often-frantic pace of our lives, a retreat offers an invitation to unplug, reset, and rest in the Lord. Many times, the invitation comes at a time when life is going fast and we simply don’t think we can make room for a break from the things that demand our attention. That is the time we often need to retreat the most.
Recently, the Diocese held the yearly men’s and women’s retreats. Many from our family of parishes took the opportunity to practice what we will be doing for eternity… resting in the Lord. I can’t speak for the men, but the women’s retreat blew me away! I was able to recharge or refill my cup… someone once told me, “You can’t “feed” others if you are not being “fed” yourself.” I’ve also heard it said that going on retreat is like an inoculation… that shot in the arm that keeps us healthy and going from day to day. Whatever analogy you want to use, do you say “yes” to recharge when the invitation arises?
“He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ (Mark 6:31)
Jesus and the disciples were traveling and teaching all over and often were so inundated with people needing something, that they often had no time to rest, let alone even eat! They often had to go away from the crowds for rest. For me, I have recognized that I need to slow down and sit with the Lord so I can hear Him above all of the “noise” of life. When we sit with Him, He often reveals things to us that we couldn’t come to on our own. I have found that after retreat, I come back a better, wife, mother, friend, and most importantly, a beloved daughter of God.
All the time we have has been given to us by God. How often do you take time to simply rest in Him? If you haven’t taken time for a retreat lately, perhaps now is your opportunity or invitation to slow down… reconnect with not only God but also those in our community. Welcome retreats are coming up again March 29-30 for men and April 5-6 for women. If you have not yet attended, perhaps now is your time.
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