Retreat - Saturday

Date: 01 December 2005 10:16:26

A wonderful day in many respects, and a not so wonderful day in one other.

The bad first: I woke up feeling terribly unwell. I had a headache of massive proportions and my stomach felt very dodgy. Regardless, I sprung out of bed as best I could at 6:15, showered and headed off to Matins. Five minutes in I knew I was going to be sick. So I ran outside, found a tree, and responded to God's glorious creation in not such a pleasant way. Not one to miss services, I went back to the cabin, washed my mouth and brushed my teeth, and went back to Matins. Three minutes later I was back at the tree. It was then I decided I'd better lay down.

I knew Unordered would be making an appearance and I wanted to say 'Hi' to her so I got up for the first talk -- feeling more unwell. As she made mention on her blog about the day, I didn't last very long. 5 minutes perhaps. A very kind fellow and a kind first-aider gave me some pain relievers (as the headache was bothering me more than the sickness) and I got some sleep.

Various people came in to check on me between the two morning talks which I thought was very kind. At lunchtime a fellow parishioner came in to see how I was, and I thought I might try and get up and walk. On the way in I met another first aider who offered to take me to the pharmacy. I said perhaps after lunch, but then she remembered there was a pharmacist at the camp (one of the retreaters from Melbourne), so she asked her what might help. I got given some rather 'interesting' gastro-calming drink which helped. I was taking very small sips -- I think the 250ml lasted me the entire afternoon.

But, thanks be to God, I got to talk to Unordered and her tag-a-long over lunch and introduced her and him to a few parishioners from my church. While they ate and I drank my concotion, we learnt a bit more about each other, and I learnt a few things about my fellow parishioners as well. Unordered was very kind in commenting about me and my friends, and the compliment can easily be returned. It was an absolute delight to meet Unordered, though I wish I had been feeling better and I hope my rushing off wasn't taken as rude. It was a blessing to find out more about her and meet her "live". I will also say, and try to embarrass her by saying, that all my friends from Sydney were very impressed that Unordered and tag-a-long came along and they found it a blessing and joy to meet you both. You provided them with much encouragement by your presence: they thought it marvellous that you saw something in Orthodoxy, which most of them have grown up in; that you came along to a retreat; and that you are in fact visiting an Orthodox church. They, and many cradle-Orthodox I talk to, are continually amazed and surprised and overjoyed that others see beauty and truth within Orthodoxy. Wherever your journey leads, Unordered, God speeed.

After lunch we had a bit of free time and people spent it either browsing / buying books; playing table tennis; jumping on the trampoline; trying the rope-course; or trying the Flying Fox. Also, we had a bit of a craft-project to do. We were given two pieces of wood to stain and lacquer, and an icon: with which we were to make a mounted icon. You can see the result of my effort below: the icon is the one in the middle. I thought it was a wondrous thing to take away from the retreat: a useful aid in prayer and a reminder of the retreat.

In case you are interested: the icon at bottom-left is of the Wedding in Cana: I received it as a gift at a wedding I went to: it is from the The Holy Cross Monastery; on the top-shelf from left to right: a laminated photocopy of Sts Michael and Gabriel, Patrons of our Parish, which we were given on our Feast Day this year; icon of Christ Pantocrator; icon from the retreat; icon of Christ's Descent to Hades; icon of St John the Forerunner, given to me by two parishioners as Ian is the Scottish form of John.

I keep my Bible and Prayer Book in the drawer, and the candles are kept at bottom-right.

My prayer corner, with the shelf I bought from Ikea

While staining and pasting my icon, I spoke to Unordered a few more times -- and at other times went for a lay down or a quick walk. Again: a delight to meet her and a fellow parishioner from the Orthodox church she attends Sunday evenings.

Then it was time for the third talk -- on Church History. I was feeling a bit better and thought I'd go. As Unordered mentioned, Fr George was able to make a potentially very dry topic very interesting and entertaining. He also took a number of questions as he went through. I learnt a good deal about the various controversies throughout the history of Christendom, and had a good laugh on the way. My friends were a bit concerned as to how Unordered took the talk -- as Fr George was humorously biting towards other churches at times, and perhaps the humour would not come through: they were relieved to find out you enjoyed it Unordered.

Dinner involved more talking, and I managed to eat a bit -- I was feeling much better. Just before Unordered left all the enquirers, catechumens and converts, including Fr Geoff, a convert priest from Anglicanism, sat at a table together and had a bit of a talk. Two friends from my parish came up and listened and asked questions also: I find the Orthodox very inquisitive as to what people see in Orthodoxy and why they may want to look at coming over. I suppose growing up with it much of it is taken for granted. Unordered left, and I was sad to see her go -- but very pleased to have met her. Hopefully we'll see each other again soon (and hopefully I'll meet plenty of other Wibloggers too).

There was a Vigil (Matins and Vespers) Saturday evening, but I went to bed and alternated between sleeping and reading. After the Vigil, and comments about its beauty, there was more talking among people in our cabin. And then a bonfire was lit. We went out and sat around it: stories were told and alternated from scary and freaky to stories of miracles in people's lives. A very plesant evening.

After a while it was bedtime. Despite the fact I had slept most of the day, I nodded off pretty quickly.