Sunday 5/23/10 - "ON RETREAT WITH GOD"

SUNDAY POEM

"ON RETREAT WITH GOD"

I see you hanging from each tendril of the mysterious Spanish moss
That dangles elegantly from the trees that line the darkened path

And there - peeking out are your rays of sunlight piercing the dark to light the way

And there - darting red of cardinal wings flitting bush to branch, fence post to pillar
Then lost from view into the lush foliage above

And there - again - your touch in gentlest breeze that sways the moss that drapes this wondrous world

Prayer Girl

(The theme of my 11th step retreat this weekend was "PEACE".
So - PEACE BE WITH YOU)

Photo credits: ME :)

5/21/10 - "RECIPE FOR SERENITY - A SPIRITUAL RETREAT"

FLASH FICTION FRIDAY 55

"RECIPE FOR SERENITY -
A SPIRITUAL RETREAT"

Start with the rising scented smoke of
extinguished prayer candles drifting to God.

Add to that the sweet fragrance of
night blooming jasmine.


Then review the past capturing the faith and trust
found in prior experiences.

And the final step is to take all this to an
11th step weekend spiritual retreat in Venice, Florida.

Prayer Girl

(Photo credits:
Smoking prayer II by ashbashrasher@deviantart.com
Night Blooming Jasmine by Japamala@deviantart.com
a visit 4)

Flash Fiction Friday 55 is hosted by G-Man.

Thursday, 6/4/09 - "FINAL RETREAT THOUGHTS"

"FINAL RETREAT THOUGHTS"

(Please permit a blong!)

A few more things I remember from the weekend retreat....

What I am seeking is already within me. I just haven't become aware of its presence yet. To become aware...slow down in the care of God - meditate - be in the moment.

The life of spirituality is always inviting us to change.

On becoming whole:
1. Dare to be different. Speak your truth.
2. Become a creator. What is your passion? Be creative. Honor it and allow it to be seen.
3. Forgiveness.
4. Trust yourself. Allow divine intuition. Trust genuine motives.
5. Accept reality.

"AN IRRESISTIBLE URGE"

A RETREAT STORY:
The best moments in any experience I have are those when God reaches into my life and connects me to another in need of a "healing touch".

More often than not, I am not looking for these types of interactions anymore. However, I do try to maintain as constant a contact with God as I can allowing them to happen spontaneously. If my mind gets too involved, I can miss the urging or I can think my way out of acting on it when I hear that call.

The final morning of our retreat produced such a moment filling me with wonder, awe, joy, and love. Those desiring morning meditation met in the chapel early before breakfast. I was sitting in the second row of seats on the left side of the very small and intimate chapel. Ahead of me in the first row sat two girls, one a little to my left and one to my right. I had a few short conversations with one of them the day before, but I did not really know either of them.

Suddenly, that irresistible urge came into my mind, into my spirit, to reach out and place my hands on them. I resisted for a few moments, then reached out. Both girls quickly put one of their hands over my hand resting on their back and shoulder. We remained that way for several minutes. As the girl on the right and I left the chapel, she said to me, "You're a healer. I could feel it. Your hand was hot." I answered, "Yes, I am." I have become more comfortable responding to such statements as time has passed since the first time I experienced the "healing touch". I used to hem and haw and not really know what to say.

I don't know what God had in mind that morning, but I am sure He always has His purposes. Later at breakfast the other girl came up to me to tell me she had been suffering with neck, shoulder and back pains all weekend, finding it hard to sit for long periods. She began to move her head and shoulders to show me and said, "Your hand was as hot as an oven and ever since you put it on me, my pains are lessened." She then asked if I would help with pain she still had in her hips. I immediately told her we should go outside and we sat on a bench where I could place my hands on her hips. We parted and later before we left she told me she had returned to her room, fell right to sleep and when she awoke her hips were better.

These kinds of events are always my deepest spiritual experiences. An extraordinary connection is always formed, even with strangers, at these moments of God's urging.

I remember always the following:
It is not about me.
God has His purposes.
Don't limit God.

Thank you God.
Thank you bloggers for reading such a long 'blong'.
Prayer Girl

Wednesday 6/3/09-"MORE SPIRITUAL RETREAT"

(A place of peace, prayer, and power)

(A meditation spot)

"MORE SPIRITUAL RETREAT"

Thinking it over, I believe that it was the environment, the spiritual aura that surrounded the weekend more than the words that were said that made it so special. That isn't to say that there weren't a lot of really good things said.
Here are some of them:

When the direction you are going finds you meeting lights that stay green, then keep going that way.

Let go the control of your heart so there is enough room for God to get in.

If more than one person is saying the same thing, you should listen.

I can render God powerless by saying, "No". He allows free will.

God is always creating something new. Every moment is new. Every experience is new.

I was a person of extremes. I need to stay balanced between the extremes.

When 'need' shows itself, you'll have everything you 'need'.

The following was a guide to meditation:
Ask yourself what message is it that you most need to hear today? (Which message has been lost that you need to retrieve?)

1. You are wanted.
2. You are loved for yourself.
3. You are safe.
4. You will be taken care of.
5. You will not be betrayed.
6. Your presence matters.

I am at a place where I usually feel wanted, loved, safe, and cared for. I never feel like I will be betrayed.
The one I chose to focus on was, "Your presence matters."

God is in the ordinary and the extraordinary.

We can't listen well when we are talking.

I hope these thoughts bring a sense of peace and serenity to you as they have done for me.

God bless all you bloggers,
Prayer Girl

Tuesday, 6/2/09 - "SPIRITUAL RETREAT - PART 1"

(A bridge over tranquil waters)

(Peaceful beauty)

(God is here)

"SPIRITUAL RETREAT - PART 1"

These are just a few of the pictures of the retreat center where I spent this past weekend. The participants were members of Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon.

We arrived about 5 p.m. on Friday. God's first surprise happened moments after I walked into the registration area. All of a sudden, I heard a voice calling my name in an excited manner. I turned to discover that it was a girl I sponsored almost 10 years ago. I was her first sponsor and we have a very special bond. She moved away from my home city years ago. She had health problems when I met her and they have worsened over the years. She is now on oxygen, but has a wonderful spirit, just carries oxygen with her, and stays active. She had moved to Arizona and then to New England, finally moving back to Florida further up the West Coast of Florida from where I live. We have seen each other only once in the many years since she left, about a year and a half ago. She came back to town to visit her old friends and we saw each other at that time. And now here she was.

They fed us well and maybe too much over the weekend, but I love good food so I ate my fill.

Sister Kay was our retreat leader. I knew her from the women's 11th step spiritual retreat last year in May. She is a terrific guide and God shined and spoke through her. She started off the weekend by asking two questions that might guide our thinking and meditation as we proceeded. The two questions were:

1. What are you seeking?
2. What are you resisting?

For me, I realized that the thing I was seeking was the same thing I was resisting.

I had an opportunity to meet with Sister Kay for a short time on Saturday. She had 15 minute segments set aside to meet with anyone who wished to speak with her individually. I always take the opportunity to do so. I believe in taking every advantage available to me. I told her I wondered if everyone was discovering that what they seek is also what they resist? Food for thought......

That's all for now. I'll write more about the retreat in the future.

Prayer Girl

Monday 6/1/09 - "HOME AGAIN - HOME AGAIN"

"HOME AGAIN - HOME AGAIN -
JIGGITY JOG"

Hi everyone. I'm back from my weekend 11th step spiritual retreat. Wow, I'm still processing. It will take me a while to sort out what I want to write about it. For now, let me just say that as I expected God had some things in store to show me while I was there......as I know He was also showing many things to everyone who participated.

I will share about the retreat later in the week.

For now, I'm picking up on Mr. Steve's invitation to blog about:

THE SIX THINGS THAT MAKE ME HAPPY

1. It makes me so happy to have the opportunity to attend a spiritual retreat and that I valued myself enough to give it to myself as a gift for my birthday. The peace and serenity, the closeness to God, the friendships that I experienced.....it's all just so very good.

2. It makes me happy anytime God puts an 'urging' in my mind to reach out and offer my healing touch to someone or to just reach out to another and discover later they have experienced a healing. This is a joy beyond description.

3. It makes me happy when a poem or prayer or a prayer poem is born. That also brings a satisfaction and joy beyond compare. I would need a poem to describe the wonder of creating a poem.

4. Getting back to the very mundane - I am happy, happy, happy when I sit down to enjoy a Starbucks extra hot vanilla latte or caramel macchiato. I swoon. It is the one addiction that I still allow in my life.

5. I am happy when my son and daughter are happy. When they have good news, things are going well for them or they have had a difficult situation that has been resolved, I feel happy and very grateful.

6a. I am happy for the relationship I have with God. I am happy that today I know what I have been searching for all my life and I have begun to find it.

6b. Last, but certainly not least, in fact mostly....I am happy to have found my husband and to be living whatever years God graces us with together.

....oh heck, I have to add a 6c. I am happy for my recovery that has allowed all of the above and to have found the recovery blogosphere and you, my dear readers and writers.

Love you,
Prayer Girl