“Be Still, and know that I am God”
In a culture of noise and confusion we hardly find a place to practice solitude. And yet, when we read the gospels we find that even Christ made time in his busy ministry to “find a silent place and pray.” One of the most challenging times at TREK for most is the 48-hour silent retreat. It is a time when interaction with anyone is minimized to glazed glances and absent pleasantries. We are forced to leave all music behind. It is a time when we offer our time for God to speak to us. It is so difficult because we surround ourselves with chaos and find it near impossible to break away. It is no wonder why God’s “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19) is nowhere to be found.
Experiences differ from anger because God was not speaking to God speaking through a seal basking in the sun. My experience was just as unique.
I sat in my hammock tucked away in small forest on the edge of the Mark Centre property. I knew that in order to get in the right mindset I would need to separate the previous time with this new time of silence. So I took a refreshing nap in the beautiful weather. When I awoke I prayed that God would clear my mind, my heart, and cleanse my soul. What I experienced next was unlike anything I have experienced before in my life. As I invited Christ’s Spirit to be present I was overwhelmed with his peace. The peace I had sensed before in my life but this was extended and deeper.
It’s hard to explain just quite what it felt like. Noises that would have once distracted me seemed to come into my attention and drift through with purpose. They were no longer the shouts of a mother but became purposeful and for Christ. It was like I was getting a glimpse into how Christ sees the world. There was great silence, yet, it’s the silence that has sound. It hardly makes sense, I know, but perhaps that is the way God’s peace works. It’s a mystery how peace works, but perhaps when God blesses us with his presence things just make sense. I had incredible clarity of mind. When the Enemy reminded me of past sin, I could recognize the lies immediately and rebuke instantly. Nature that surrounded me was doing exactly as God intended it to do.
The peace was beautiful and I miss it dearly. It’s been just about a week since the retreat and I desire that presence once more. If I have learned anything here it would be that I can ask God for His presence and He will bless me with it abundantly.
–Thomas
