Retreating

No – I’m not retreating in the sense that I’m going away. It just seems that way because I have not had much to say out here. Anyway, as you know, I’ve been busy in my garden and doing other things. The weather is crazy and politics are crazy and everything seems crazy – but my garden, that’s another story.

It seems to me that in the face of the rapid fire bad news – for example, on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 approximately 30 people were shot in the United States – that we might all do well to not be as fully immersed in the torrent that is social media. And I say that as someone often on social media.

As I was pondering this, I came across this information from my friend Jane Redmont, and I thought that I would share it with you all. Imagine if we got on our computers NOT to be on social media, but to take a class or an online retreat? Jane has some summer offerings that I am considering, and that I would urge you to consider as well.

Nine Days with Dorothy Day is an online retreat that begins this Friday, June 16. You log on daily at your convenience, total time would be about 20 minutes a day. That is 20 minutes not on Facebook or Twitter, and not seething over the news. That is 20 minutes a day spent with someone who dedicated their life to peace and justice. You can find out more and sign up at this link: Nine Days with Dorothy Day

Jane is also starting up an excellent online class – especially made for these times. Bonhoeffer in His Times and Ours will begin on Monday, June 19. This is a 5 week online class with a retreat option. Many of us have read, reread, and spent time with Bonhoeffer of late, and this is an exceptional opportunity to dive in deep. Once again, your sign on time is your own to manage. Details about what your time commitment will be and more can be found at this link: Bonhoeffer in His Times and Ours

Later in June and July there will be some new offerings focusing on:

*William Stringfellow
*Howard Thurman
*Ada María Isasi-Díaz
*Dorothee Sölle

Visit Jane’s site to get information on these online retreats, plus others about social media and slowing down. You can contact her with questions, and to explore financial options.

Going away does not always mean travel, sometimes it might mean quiet time on your deck or in a coffee shop during a busy day. Give yourself a gift or two by signing up. May we all turn inward, so that we might shine outward, being a light for the world.

Advertisement

Take time to nourish your soul and spirit this summer

Last year at this time, I was pretty emotionally pretty decompensated. Long story, it does not matter why, and I’m good now. The one thing that I felt like I needed to do was to go on a retreat, which I did. Seven full days of monastic silence… ahhhh. That kind of retreat is a luxury, and one I don’t have the time for now.

So what do we do when we don’t have the time, or if it feels as if we don’t have the time to go away? How can we take the time to nourish our souls and spirits?

Here is one idea… Sign up for Soelle in Summer: Challenge and Wonder.

Who or what is Soelle, you may ask? That means:

Dorothee Soelle (1928-2003) was a German theologian, poet, peace activist, and Protestant Christian with Catholic, secular, humanist, and Jewish companions and allies; she was also a friend, teacher, spouse, mother, socialist, and from mid-life on, feminist.

She had me at Soelle! And she kept me at “challenge and wonder.” I love that description. I first learned about Soelle from theologian Jane Redmont, who is facilitating this online offering. This hybrid course and retreat begins on June 17 and runs through July 31. Jane is an experienced online facilitator and retreat leader, who will guide you on this spiritual journey.

The beauty of online retreats is that you can set aside time for this that suits your schedule.

For more details and sign up information, please see Jane’s website –  here.  If you want to learn more about online retreats, check this link from NCR. (Please note, you will find me speaking about another one of Jane’s retreats in the article, so I am not unbiased, but on the other hand, I have experienced this!)