Creating Sacred Space
Rather than spending hours writing and rewriting a blog post (I’m a perfectionist in recovery for sure!), I am going to run with the assumption that a picture tells a thousand words! So, here are a few thousand words to share with you about how our retreat community co-created our sacred space together in the beautiful chapel at Flores…
So manty more pictures to share and stories to tell, but I’ll have to save them for another post. We leave tomorrow for our Camino Walk! Nervous and thrilled all rolled up into one! Can’t wait!!
This is the gorgeous chapel where we have been gathering and worshipping together throughout our retreat.
Our shared sacred space began with an empty ceramic bowl placed in the baptismal font.
On Wednesday evening, everyone added a stone they had brought from home.
On Thursday evening everyone added water they had brought from home and we lit the 3-day Easter candle to symbolize our entry into the 3 days & 3 nights of deep silence. Since the very first Belly of the Whale silent retreat in 2019, I have been asking retreatants to bring a bit of water from their homes that we would collect and keep at the heart of our sacred space. Each year I save some of the water and then add a bit of it to the home waters that we gather at the beginning of each subsequent year’s retreat. This becomes a beautiful representation of the community of all those who have journeyed into these 3 days & 3 nights of sacred silence over the years.
The candle stayed lit night and day for 3 days and 3 nights.
On Friday morning we explored Jonah 1 and the way we are called to “Wake Up to God’s Presence” even when we want to run away. The kaleidoscope and Lake Erie sea glass symbolized the way God’s light shine through each of our broken, beautiful pieces in powerful ways.
On Friday afternoon, we explored Jonah 2 and how we can “Hold onto Hope” even in the belly of the whale.
My co-retreat leader, Basia, made these absolutely exquisite whales using basic wooden Russian nesting dolls and painting them to look like whales!! Amazing!! She used paints she made herself from ashes collected from prayers of pilgrims who have passed through this sacred place and offered prayers for their Camino by burning a piece of paper with their prayers on them. Basia is so incredibly artistic and creative!
On Saturday morning we explored Jonah 3 and how we are called to “Act boldly” and go wherever God is calling - even when we are called beyond our comfort zone. The sackcloth and ashes on the altar remind us of the Ninevites acts of repentance and their willingness to get a little uncomfortable in order to turn toward God.
On Saturday afternoon we explored Jonah 4 and the way we are called to “Love Extravagantly” even when we are angry and we don’t understand. The sticks on the altar are cut from the vine here at Flores that grows over our common eating area on the patio.
This morning, we emerged from our 3 days & 3 nights of deep silence in the belly of the whale by sharing our reflections and breaking bread together using my Great Grandpa‘s (a Methodist Circuit Rider in the early 1900’s) traveling communion set. So special!!
