Today I returned from a Lenten Taize Retreat at Loyola House in Guelph. My aunt invited me to join her at this retreat during the Christmas holidays. It arrived at a fairly stressful time in school, but I suppose it is during these times that retreats are most effective and important.
Taize is a different type of worship and we had a total of four liturgies and Mass on Sunday throughout the entire weekend. Taize is a very specific genre of music that takes simple phrases of Biblical truths and spiritual promises, puts it to very simple music and repeats over and over again. It definitely takes an acquired taste and I know I don't enjoy it as fully as it could be enjoyed. It is very meditative and peaceful and calming. I'm planning to check out the Taize community in France after I study in England this spring.
The retreat included bountiful opportunities for silence, meditations, prayer, and reflection. I had a really good time pondering what I was doing with my life. I've been struggling lately about whether to enter grad school for psychology or teach overseas. I've always intended to enter seminary as well, but it was only a matter of when. I will do what brings peace to my heart.
During meditation this morning, I imagined myself as a wine glass and asked God to fill me up. I expected to see liquid peace and joy and hope and love flowing into the cup as wine would fill the glass; however, what I saw surprised me. I saw the hands of God lift up the cup and into the cup flowed things like poverty, the homeless, AIDS victims, the hurting, and the like. My interpretation of this is that in order for God to fill me up, He wants me to seek those who are weak and needy and have compassion on them. One thing I have learned in the past is that God commands us to be merciful and serve those in need. In serving these people, we are blessed in return for seeing God's heart more clearly.
We are blessed to be a blessing to others, but by being a blessing to others, we are blessed all the more in return.
4 comments:
Hey Joyce - I enjoyed reading about the retreat and was particularly curious to hear about the different types of worship - I think its great that we can give glory to God is so many ways!
I really liked your analogy of the wine glass and I think that praying for eyes like Christ can be one of the hardest things a Christian can pray - its really hard for me to see the poor, the homeless, the hurting and the hopeless the way He does, and not do something about it eh? It calls us to action, and that can be hard!
I'm glad that you found the retreat refreshing and was able to get away from it all! Hope your week isn't too crazy God bless you sister!
Tim
I'm glad you were able to get away for a while. I pray that these next few weeks of school you have left of this year will be enjoyable and that GOd will bless you.
Joyce, I am so glad that you found rest & peace, experiencing Him at this retreat. You know, one of these days I have to meet this aunt of yours that I hear about so much =D
It's such a blessing that living in Canada, and being who we are, we are able to have all these educational and career opportunities. Sometimes, though, it seems even harder in that case! However, I know that He will lead you where He wills, when the time comes. I'm excited to see where you will go & do for Him.
I really like your wine glass analogy. He fills us up with joy as well as suffering, so that we may identify with Christ and grow more in His likeness.
Thanks for being a blessing to me =) love ya!
i think i've heard one of these taize type of worship music before. gongs & bells & nature sounds were used, and scripture was read by someone who sounded like a monk.
i like the wine glass image. God has definitely been placing marginalized people upon my heart this year. so much so that i want to work with & for anti-oppression purposes in whatever i do, whether it's in public health &/or media.
"One thing I have learned in the past is that God commands us to be merciful and serve those in need. In serving these people, we are blessed in return for seeing God's heart more clearly."
thanks for the encouraging words!
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