As we journey through Ordinary Time, our lives often feel far from ordinary. The world spins faster and faster, days go by and we are caught in the rush, pulled in countless directions especially for families with young children. Where do we find the time to come to Church? Where do we find the time to be with family and friends? Then you have me asking you to come to a weekend retreat! Many of you say to me, “Fr. Brendan, I just don’t have the time. I wish I could but I have so many things to do. I just cannot find the time”.
Julianne Stanz, in her book Braving the Thin Places, beautifully describes these forces as “centrifugal”—pushing us away from the core of our lives, until we feel as if we might be pulled apart. Remember the centrifugal force causes an object moving in a circulate path to be flung out and away from the center of its path. When apart from that center, the object destabilizes, splits, and falls apart.
She states, “This principle of centrifuge force applies not just for inanimate objects but also to each of us on our spiritual journey. When we move away from the center core of who we are called to be, sometimes by your own choices, sometimes by circumstances, we spin and spin and the pain causes to fall apart, to shatter into what feels like a million pieces. The current pace of life largely emphasizes frenetic activity and rapidity. But activity begets activity, and the more we do, the faster life spins and the more life blurs before us, just as if we were on a spinning wheel. All the loose edges of pain, our relationships, and our experiences fall apart from within us. We feel pulled away from the core of who we are, and we begin to lose our own voice. This is what we mean by falling apart.”
How true this can feel. The demands of daily life, the noise of the world, and the endless responsibilities tug at us, threatening to unravel the quiet within. We become so accustomed to the spinning that we forget we can stop. We forget that, at the center, there is peace.
I was thinking about this and am reminded that Jesus reminds us of our ultimate allegiance: to God, the One who holds all things together. In Psalm 46, we hear the gentle call to “Be still and know that I am God.” In the stillness, we remember who we are, and more importantly, we remember whose we are.
I invite you to come and be still next Friday and Saturday at our parish retreat. Our campus will be transformed into a calming retreat center—a sacred space to pause, to be still, and to reconnect with God. You don’t have to come for the whole retreat. If you can only attend one or two sessions, please join us for whatever you can. Even a brief moment of stillness can make all the difference! You can view the schedule here.
This year, we are blessed with the gift of two extraordinary musicians and composers, Trevor Thompson and Meredith Augustin. Their music will guide us through three beautiful prayer services: Friday evening, Saturday morning, and Saturday evening. Their melodies will help us enter into deeper prayer and reflection, soothing the soul as we rest in God’s presence.
It really will be a special time so please invite your spouse, your friends and family to come and be still together. Let this be a weekend where you say yes to rest, yes to prayer, and yes to God!
Please register today and remember: whether you can come for the entire weekend or just for one session, we would love to have you. We have childcare available and for those who are in need and cannot afford the registration fee, we have parishioners who are willing to pay your fee for you. Just come! The Lord is waiting for you. Will you come and rest a while? Register here. If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please contact Clare and Rachel here.
Finally, I would like to thank Josh Bligh for chairing the Parish Life Group (PLG) Monster Mash event last night. Huge thanks to the small team of parents who helped him with planning, purchasing items, setting-up, manning the game stations, serving food & drinks and cleaning up. The families had a wonderful evening making memories and building community — it was fantastic to see the parking lot transformed into a fun Fall carnival! Special thanks to Deanne Bligh for coordinating registration, Cisco Rivera for providing lighting for the event, and Angela Schaufler for coordinating volunteers. It truly takes a village to put on an event like this and next year they will need more help so please consider sharing some of your time and talent. If you would like to be involved next year, please email here.
God bless,
Fr. Brendan