Hermitage Retreat Center – Page 2

The Hermitage X: Making Plans for Progress

So, I’ve been back for about a month now and I wanted to check in on my progress. After I returned, a Muslim friend of mine who recently went on her own retreat advised MAKING PLANS when you got home to keep up the momentum. PrayerDaily prayer is again a part of my life, whichContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage X: Making Plans for Progress”

The Hermitage IX: Arriving Back in Lansing

The weekend after I got home, I had a dinner date with my friend Dragon. We met on Saturday at bookclub at the library where I work. She’d texted me that she was interested in hearing about my time at The Hermitage, but I was feeling shy. I didn’t want to sound like I’d goneContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage IX: Arriving Back in Lansing”

The Hermitage VIII: Winding Down My Retreat

As my last few hours wound down, I spent more time in the company of others. Silent company, but community nevertheless. I took my knitting to the common area after packing up my room and changing the sheets to begin to reaclimatize. After lunch, I said goodbye to my friend, thanking him for being theContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage VIII: Winding Down My Retreat”

The Hermitage VII: Me and Islam

I spent some time at The Hermitage thinking about where I stand on Islam, my religion of three decades. For the last year I really thought I was on my way out of this faith. But I’m still here so I wanted to evaluate my situation. I am easily able to overlook aspects of theContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage VII: Me and Islam”

The Hermitage VI: Spiritual Direction

On my second day, I met with JMD for a period of spiritual direction. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I did have some experiences that I was both eager and nervous to explore with someone. I was hoping she would know what to make of them. I was partially worried and partially expectantContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage VI: Spiritual Direction”

The Hermitage V: The Experience of Silence

My time at The Hermitage was truly a respite from every day life – but not just a respite: an archway into prayer, silence, and reflection. Space for reading, growth, and understanding. But most of all, for God’s love for me to really get through to me. That may sound a little corny but itContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage V: The Experience of Silence”

The Hermitage IV: My Goals for My Retreat

In the days leading up to my time at The Hermitage, I pulled out a fresh journal and sat down to consider what I wanted to accomplish. Some of my decision-making goals were temporal, and practical. I was really struggling with my attitude toward my health. As much as I intellectually knew that I neededContinueContinue reading “The Hermitage IV: My Goals for My Retreat”