i went for a retreat 2 weeks ago. it was a silent retreat...that means there will be minimum talking.

we are suppose to spend the quite time, reflecting on the words of God, and how it affects our lives.

there are a few topics that the spiritual director touched on.
1. Power of forgiveness 2. Dining in the kingdom of God 3. Renewal of baptismal promises and last resurrection.

interesting subject to think about, and how it applies to me.

it was not hard for me to keep quite..... but poor wifey and some other ladies have a hard time...hahaaa....

the power of forgiveness take us to the time when jesus washes the feet of his diciples. we did wash the feet of each other.... it was hard to wash a feet of a stranger...it gets even harder to kiss the feet after washing it...as a sign of total forgiveness....

but i think thats the kind of humility we are to practice... to be able to do it, it takes a lot. not easy. the person that washed my feet.... i see jesus in that person. if jesus can do it, what more a mortal man like me.... then it was my turn to wash the other person feet. it was humility. i felt that i can forgive people readily... but i dont promise the forgetting part. but if in my heart, i bear no ill will.... no harm, then i guess thats the power of forgiveness.....

we were told to take some flowers to represent something, it could be a person, an event... we think need we need to forgive or need to pray for that person or that event.

i picked 3 flowers.... one of it was a big bunch.... after thinking about it..... i pluck out one small flower from the big bunch. so i have a total of 4. some are events some people and some subject close to my heart. we are to write down our thoughts, reflect and pray over it.

it was hard. painful to a certain point.

baptismal promises. we woke up at 530am in the morning to wait for day break. we listen to the word of God in the dark, to wait for first light and dawn marks a new beginning. we were to go into the baptismal font and then renew of vows. but before we do that, we offer up all our troubles, hate and burden to God by putting all the flowers we had into the font. a sing of offering everything to God and letting go....that is our renewal and our resurrection when we get up from the baptism font.

it was peaceful experience for me. i hope everyone there learn something. i told the priest that perhaps the silent part can be a little longer, cos i felt that people today are too busy listening to others and themselves. they forgot about God and forgot to listen to him. the silent moments without worldly things like mobile phones and the internet gives us a chance to listen to him and then re-examined ourselves and the people around us.

another useless thought.