Finding Renewal at Bon Secours
For many of us, peace feels like something distant—something we’ll get to once our work is done, our problems are solved, or our schedules are cleared. Yet Scripture reminds us that peace is not only possible, it’s available to us right now—often revealed through God’s creation.
The psalmist writes, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). Creation itself is constantly speaking, offering us a wordless testimony of God’s beauty and love.
When you step onto the grounds of the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center, you are entering a sanctuary of creation. The quiet pond, the winding walking trails, the flower gardens, and the forest edge are more than scenery—they are invitations. They call us to slow down, breathe deeply, and let the rhythms of the natural world align us again with God’s peace.
The Spiritual Power of Creation
Throughout the Bible, nature is a setting where God encounters His people:
- Moses meets God in the burning bush (Exodus 3).
- Elijah hears God not in the storm or fire, but in a gentle whisper on the mountain (1 Kings 19:11–12).
- Jesus frequently withdraws to gardens, mountainsides, and wilderness places to pray (Luke 5:16).
In each case, nature is not simply a backdrop—it’s part of the sacred encounter itself. Creation quiets our minds and opens our hearts to God’s voice.
Practices to Experience Peace in Nature
When retreating at Bon Secours, or even in your daily life, you can enter into peace through simple, prayerful practices outdoors:
- Mindful Walking – As you walk the labyrinth or trails, pray Psalm 23:2: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” Let each step be an act of release.
- Lectio Divina with Creation – Instead of reading scripture alone, choose an element of nature—a tree, a stream, a flower—and “read” it with the same contemplative attention you would bring to a sacred text. Ask: what is God speaking to me here?
- Journaling in the Outdoors – Sit with a notebook and allow the sights and sounds around you to become prompts for reflection. Birdsongs, breezes, or clouds can inspire prayers of gratitude and surrender.
- Silence with God – Sometimes, simply being still in creation is prayer enough. As Psalm 46:10 invites us: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Why Nature Brings Renewal
Modern life often pulls us into artificial spaces and fast-paced routines that disconnect us from God’s rhythms. Nature grounds us again in God’s timing—the slow unfolding of seasons, the faithful rising of the sun, the constant renewal of life.
When we allow ourselves to enter into that rhythm, peace comes not as something forced but as something natural. It is a return to the Garden—where we were created to walk with God in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8).