Date: 24 February 2009 21:28:00
and prays hard. I have just booked myself onto a retreat. It's the last thing on the To Do list I was presented with six weeks ago, and that I will be having to report on next week.
I have been resisting having an eight day individually guided retreat since the disastrous one I was coerced into having about seventeen years ago. I have a few days retreat most years, it's always been on my own, silent, and away from people. I've always talked about it afterwards, but have preferred to be on my own.
I've been muttering for ages I don't "do" Ignatian. I have trouble with imaginative prayer, I struggle with whether or not I'm "doing" it right, and as to what happens when my imagination runs riots.... I even thought by having a spiritual director who's evangelical would help me continue to avoid Ignatius and all his works. Failed completely. I'm not getting away with it this time. I was smiled at gently, and had it suggested maybe it was time to let my imagination run riot with someone who might just understand it. God is very devious, methinks.
Actually, I've not quite managed all on my To Do list. But it's not my fault I had a bit of a bruised hand crisis, and serious piano practice has been off the agenda for a few weeks. I returned to one of my regular piano playing paid jobs today, and I can still feel the bruising.
Anyway, I am organised for Lent! New books are purchased (One Bible Study, one Lent book I liked the look of! you have no idea what a treat this is) and Tractor Girl's list for balance.
I wonder if it's right to be selling Fair Trade chocolate on Ash Wednesday?