“I don’t think I can make it.” My good friend had invited me to attend a weekend retreat and it was the worst possible time to go away for the weekend.
“I have several deadlines for work and I can’t guarantee I’ll be there on time.” I came up with every excuse I could think of to try to dodge this invitation. But since my friend was helping to organize the retreat I knew I should be there to support her.
When the day of the retreat came I was late on my work deadlines and that meant I left late for the retreat. I drove like a madwoman trying to make the last transport that would take me to the retreat house. I was stressed and nervous and the last thing I wanted to do was go on a retreat.
The driver told me if I had been a minute later he would have left. I thanked him for waiting and breathed a sigh of relief as we started our drive up the mountain (did I mention this retreat house was in the middle of no where?) I finally arrived at the retreat house, but I was in no mood to mingle. I wanted to unwind in my room and veg out in front of the TV. Of course there were no TVs in retreat guest rooms, so I freshened up, plastered a smile on my face and went downstairs to meet the others who I would be spending the weekend with.
That first night in the chapel I was still too distracted by the stress of the day to let any of the spiritual reflections penetrate my heart. I couldn't focus on prayer and I thought about all the other things I could be doing. I asked for the grace to be open to God’s blessings, but I knew I was too wound up at that time. There was too much noise in my head to be able to hear God's voice.
On the second day I began to relax and forget about all my work obligations. I was able to quiet my mind so my heart could be open to hear God’s message.
As single Catholics our lives are so busy and full. A directed weekend retreat is such a fruitful time to remove ourselves from the noise of the world and just take the time to pray and grow closer to God.
This summer, the CatholicMatch Institute is hosting a Catholic Retreat for Singles on June 27-29 at the Malvern Retreat Center in Pennsylvania. I invite you to take this time away and refocus your life to be able to hear God’s voice.
Visit our events page for more information and to register online for the Catholic Retreat for Singles.
