Theme: The Beauty of Letting Go
In the stress of this election year, as well as the despair over global concerns, there is an invitation. Poet Lynn Unger, in “Camas Lilies,” invites us to consider the possibility of letting go. Instead of frantically busying ourselves, she imagines putting everything down – “papers, plans, appointments” and leaving only a note: “Gone to the fields to be lovely. Be back when I’m through with blooming.”
Thirteenth century poet and mystic Jalaluddin Rumi wrote about another field, one that is out beyond “wrongdoing and rightdoing”. In that field, we let go of words, ideas, language, even each other, and just rest in its beauty. Lie down in that grass, Rumi encouraged, and “I’ll meet you there.”
In this retreat, we will embrace these invitations, laying everything down and meeting in the prayer-soaked landscape of Dayspring. As we surrender to beauty, we deepen our trust in the Beautiful One who fills our inner being with overflowing loveliness and blossoming energy. We then return home with priceless gifts – a renewed loveliness and a shining presence that blooms with promise and hope.
Leader: Rev. Carole Crumley is the retired senior program director of Shalem Institute and former canon educator and founder of the Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage at Washington National Cathedral. A sought-after retreat and conference leader, Carole continues to teach and lead pilgrimages to sacred sites in Europe and North America.
Weekend retreats run Friday dinner through Sunday lunch. The silence begins Friday night after dinner when the leader opens the retreat and introduces the theme. The leader usually offers brief reflections with morning and evening prayers on Saturday. The silence ends after breakfast Sunday morning with a time of sharing and worship, followed by lunch and departure.
The cost for weekend retreats is $275. A $125 deposit is required to register.
Dinner on Friday at 7 pm is the first official gathering. You are welcome to arrive and settle in between 3:30 and 6:30 pm on Friday. The retreat will end by 2 pm on Sunday. Please plan to stay for the entire retreat.