A couple of weeks ago I participated in a four day silence retreat at St Francis Springs, North Carolina (near Greensboro). This was for my continuing education for this appointive year. The Big Silence retreat is hosted twice a year by two Spiritual Directors, both of whom are elders in the Western North Carolina Conference.

I was the only person from Texas; there was one from Georgia, and the rest were from North Carolina.

After dinner Monday night, we began 3 1/2 days of silence: no phones, no side reading, no distractions. I spent a couple of hours Monday evening laying in the grass, listening to nature around me. The next couple of days there were opportunities to walk trails, while walking a prayer labyrinth, and spend time at grottos or stations of the cross.

I had never done anything like this before, and I suspect that is this case for many of us. When I shared my experiences, more than one person has said: there is no way I could do that! I bet you could if you tried. Like any worthwhile practice, it takes determination and focus.

Some of the prayer practices we observed were breath prayers, centering prayer, and Lectio Divina, a practice of reading scripture for prayer, rather than seeking knowledge. So for example, look up Ephesians 4:25-5:2, my scripture from last Sunday’s sermon. You would read the text aloud, and listen for any particular word or phrase that speaks to you. Say, “imitate,” or “one body.” Then read the scripture again, paying attention for your particular chosen word. When you hear it again: Why is this particular word standing out to you? What special meaning is God conveying to you?

The retreat was a very meaningful way to remember that prayer, scripture reading, time alone in nature are all ways God speaks to us- as long as we are focused and paying attention.

- Pastor Frank