Saturday, December 27, 2008

Exercising in tight quarters

It's less than a week until I head north to make the Spiritual Exercises. There are loose ends to tie up for work and for the family (Barnacle Boy tonight created the dinner menus for the entire five weeks I'll be away - he's taking no chances!). My current refrain: What am I forgetting?

I'm mindful of the tight quarters I'll occupy for these next five weeks, as well as the generously empty self I wish to bring to God. So the packing itself is turning out to be a spiritual exercise of sorts. Do I need to bring (fill in the blank)? Do I need an extra (another blank)? At the moment, my stance is that if I'm asking the question, the answer is probably "no". No to an extra pillow, to an extra tin of tea, to books....

10 comments:

  1. I'd rethink the pillow. Or several.

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  2. Hi Michelle! Thanks for visiting our blog. Will keep you in our prayers as you go through the Spiritual Exercises!

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  3. GG - I'm rethinking the pillow, and taking the advice of a friend who's lived on Cape Ann to bring a hot water bottle and extra blanket!!

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  4. if you don't take your own mug, well... I'll still write you, but I might have to send you one, so leave room to bring it home. A Jesuit once recommended a biography while retreating... one on a saint???

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  5. I have no wisdom to add from personal experience. However, I have known many people who have done the Exercises. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Someday, it will be my turn.

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  6. Don't forget the chocolate!

    Love and prayers for your adventure....And please keep us in your heart as well--your prayers will be very powerful as you draw so close to the heart of God.

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  7. Stratoz - so what sort of mug is appropriate to the Exercises?? I could probably write a column on that (instead I wrote one about the three kings, Menotti's operatic version of them, and packing...)

    Sophia - I drew the line at no chocolate, ascetic is one thing, penitential is another! The boys and I actually trekked into the city to get a wonderful box for me to bring along -- there is a treat a day (raspberry hearts and vanilla caramels...)!

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  8. Pillow -- I accidentally left my pillow at home while going to the beach and I had to have my husband bring it to me -- I was miserable and my neck really let me know it.

    Knitting??? Prayer shawl to pray with? Any music?

    BTW, the word verification is accidd.

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  9. Cathy - GG convinced me, pillow! And my knitting (in addition to the sweater under way, I tossed in skeins of bright yarn and a book on scarves)...shawls (I get chilly), and music on my iPod (Anon 4, Trio Medieval, Avro Part...).

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  10. hand crafted, of course, by a local artisan-- I own several, the one for retreats was made by a friend.

    have you read The Cup of Life by Joyce Rupp?

    other required items for myself--- jazz, port (30 days= 2 bottles???) I like a small glass during the examen while on retreat, puzzles, art supplies, envelope and stamps to write Mosaic Woman and DARK CHOCOLATE!!!!!

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