This past weekend we had our women’s retreat. I was hesitant before but grateful that my husband pushed me to go. We had it at Whitworth University, up a scenic mountain road to the edge of a large rain forest. The place is amazing! Perfect for meditation, relaxation, praying and just being away from the hustle and bustle of city life. It was freezing cold up there though. I had to bundled up with layers of clothes, but even what I had on isn’t enough, specially for someone who gets cold really easily. At night, I felt like I was in the middle of a strong hurricane, we could hear the sound of the wind whistling like a train at top speed. To get to the other building at night, where our rooms were, we had to cross a small pathway and prepare ourselves to be embraced by a freezing wind that had a cutting like effect on the skin. Inside our rooms, everything was cold, the blankets and the pillows. Good thing, I brought extra blanket with me. I had a difficult time sleeping the first night. But nonetheless, we had delicious food, and being all women, everybody brought yummy snacks. I had not been able to control myself, so I suffered with constipation all weekend (oh the joys of being  pregnant).

I had a great time with the ladies. Singing and sharing experiences with them. Just exactly what I needed to relax and just reflect upon my own faith. Did I find my reset button? I believe I did. And I am taking that knowledge with me. To learn to keep the inner silence within me amidst the chaos of life. Being a woman, we have so much that we carry with us each day, from the moment we wake up and even after we closed our eyes at night. It takes huge effort just to get that much needed REST, not just physically but both mentally and emotionally. Certainly not easy to “Be Still”. But we all needed it. To have that few minutes to an hour each day, to find a quiet space where we can be alone with our thoughts and LISTEN to the voice of our own spirit and to the voice of God.
Turn off the computer, put away your phone, unplug the tv and stereo. And instead, get out of the house, walk and just pay attention to what is around you. Listen to the wind, the birds, look out the mountains and just go back to the basics. Little nagging thoughts are not easy to brush off, but you can write them down, no particular patten, but write them as they play on your mind. Find a special place, somewhere outside or inside your house. Your own little corner, where you don’t do anything but be with yourself. A place to REST.

How do I do this amidst the demands of my own life? I have no idea, but I am making a change. A change in myself, a change in my perspective. Motherhood is on its way but nothing is impossible if I am willing.

A few minutes of silence each day works like miracles.

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