Home
<< Go back

It would have a simple structure, perhaps Holy Communion and some prayers, and a short address or two. There would be time and space for you to be silent in. There would be someone whom you could talk to if you wished. You would know where Lunch fitted in. A ‘preached’ Retreat is similar only longer. It would be designed to minimize external distraction. However, distractions still arise from within us. Ronald Blyth has written of the stream of unconsciousness which accompanies our labours. ‘Irritants and blessings float to its surface bobbing against each other’. In the silence we are more aware of them, and allowing the silence of our neighbours to be disturbed by our inner noise is not encouraged. Reading a good or godly, book could be an effective distraction of course, but Retreats are chances to face up to inward clutter, not avoid it. There was an old monastic custom at mealtimes of one person reading some improving book to all. This can happen on Retreats today. When I was young, we were read Father Potter of Peckham or Dom Camillo (which dates me). Now it might be the Rule of St Benedict or something Celtic. Or you might get some music in place of a reading. My experience is that the music is usually classical. Classical music is also used today in some public places today to discourage the young from gathering! Many people lead very busy lives and really love the silence. Others however live very silent lives already, and would welcome a chance for conversation. Why not get together with like spirits, and ask somebody to lead a ‘Not a Quiet Day’ for you, and work out with them what you would like to try out, and see what it is like?