“We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade, the presence of God. The world is crowded with Him. He walks everywhere incognito. And the incognito is not always hard to penetrate. The real labor is to remember, to attend. In fact, to come awake. Still more, to remain awake.”
~ C.S. Lewis
There are a million entries into the presence of God – thousands of gentle divine whispers calling us awake. And yet, when we consider the entire world from our own point of view, it does not surprise us that all of us, often, wonder why God isn’t more apparent.
God is speaking in a thousand tongues, and we are listening with only one ear. God utters a multivalent language, but we miss the rich complexity of God’s message when we ignore songs and lights and movement.
During this retreat we will practice encountering the songs of the earth. Your retreat presenter, Debra Donnelly-Barton, will offer reflection, and image and an exercise to complement it. There will be time for silence and for reflection. We will write and share as we feel led. We will walk into the creation and come home blessed.
Guided by Debra Donnelly-Barton. Check-in begins at 4pm, followed by dinner at 6pm. Your retreat will begin after dinner. An optional liturgy is available on Sunday morning before departure. Lunch is not included on Sunday.
Debra Donnelly-Barton, MA, is a seminary trained Spiritual Director with over 30 years of experience. She has studied at Stillpoint, Sewanee, University of the South and General Theological Seminary in New York. Her Master’s degree in Theology is from the Ecumenical Institute, St. Mary’s Seminary and University. Debra has led pilgrimages, workshops and retreats across the country, in many Episcopal dioceses, and for several Christian denominations. Debra has a private practice in Spiritual Direction, which informs all her ministries, emphasizing deep listening with others for whispers of the Spirit. Debra has written for the journal Presence, and recorded guided meditations Souls Illuminated by Light with a printed leader’s guide for Morehouse Publishing. Her website is CSDOnline.org.