Posts
“Wisdom dwells in Nothing, and yet possesses All things,
and the humble resigned Soul is its play-fellow :
this is the Divine alloquy,
the Inspiration of the Almighty, the Breath of God, the holy Unction,
which sanctifies the Soul to be the Temple of the Holy Spirit,
which instructs it aright in all things:
and searches the depths of God”
~ Jakob Böhme, from The Signature of All Things (1651)
Above: the Library; Below: the House.
Beacon Hill Friends House interiors
Above: Morning vigil at the Church of the Advent;
Below: Coffee at Café Vanille, Charles Street.
The sweetness of conviviality at Beacon Hill Friends House.
4 comments:
Even though I remain at my small apartment most weekends, I endeavor to make each one as retreat like as possible.
I recently listened to an interview of an American author by the name of Susan Cain. She made a statement that I really identified with. I found a similar quote on the Amazon listing for her book.
"In the nation’s earlier years it was easier for introverts to earn respect. America once embodied what the cultural historian Warren Susman called a “Culture of Character,” which valued inner strength, integrity, and the good deeds you performed when no one was looking. You could cut an impressive figure by being quiet, reserved, and dignified. Abraham Lincoln was revered as a man who did not “offend by superiority,” as Emerson put it.
Working at the Cataloging department of University of Oradea Library, it's basically in my job description to peruse every book that passes through my hands, on a daily basis. I worked with books from the 15th century, and I can tell you, I have an uplifting feeling every time I take one of those books in my hands...
I would love to take a retreat like this. Although I recently did a bit of travelling, our trip was so hurried most of the time that it was almost a relief to return home. And often even at home it becomes so easy to feel overwhelmed by all the small tasks that need to be done. A retreat would, I think, be a perfect time to catch my breath and reflect on where I'm going in my life. Reading your post has lent me some of the flavour of what I imagine a retreat would be like.
Many thanks for your comments!
For the next essay, I plan to write about a more rustic kind of retreat, but wanted to begin with this as a "retreat next door," involving very simple though essential destinations.
One of my longtime wishes had been to have the experience of waking up on Beacon Hill.
Post a Comment