I spent this last weekend on retreat. 

I’m an Associate of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, an Anglican religious order of women based in Toronto. I’m not a nun, but as an Associate I do live by a particular Rule of Life. (For more on a Rule of Life, see the Canadian Book of Common Prayer, page 555.) As an Associate of SSJD, I have vowed to support the Sisterhood’s ministry and mission, to pray Morning and Evening Prayer daily, to study scripture and read other spiritual writings. I have covenanted to intentionally live out a Christian life in helping to work for justice and peace in this world. And I have promised to make an annual retreat. 

Taking times of retreat, time apart from our everyday lives to seek out God’s voice for ourselves, can be a deeply important and meaningful spiritual practice for anyone. 

What do you do on a retreat? That will depend on what makes sense for you, but over the years some things I’ve done on retreat have included: 

• Sitting in silent meditation, sometimes with a particular passage from scripture or short prayer in mind 
• Participating in the worship life of the Sisters 
• Journaling 
• Reading the Bible and other spiritual books 
• Drawing and colouring; mandalas, Celtic crosses, simple crayon drawings 
• Putting together a jigsaw puzzle while praying about the puzzle pieces of my own life 
• Knitting or other repetitive crafting 
• Praying an Anglican rosary 
• Walking a labyrinth or other walking prayer 
• Yoga and other gentle stretching or body prayer 

We’re at the busiest time of the term, when papers are coming due and classes almost-but-not-quite-yet-over. Many of our students and faculty have a lot going on in their lives outside of school, as well. The idea of making time for a retreat might seem ludicrous to some.  

Yet I would encourage you to try, even if it’s just a single morning or afternoon, to make a date with God. Your Divine Lover would love to spend the time, just the two of you, together. 

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peace,

Heather

This message was written by Heather McCance for this week’s Wingèd Ox, a weekly news digest distributed to the college community.