If you ever come to my office at Assumption B.V.M. School you will notice a bookshelf in the corner to the right as you walk in. If you look closely you will see a book sticking out from all the other books on the top shelf. There is a story that goes with that book and anyone who asks about it will hear how I acquired it and why the title has a special meaning for me.
It all happened around the year 2000, about one and a half years before I was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Green Bay. One of the things we had to do was to make a yearly retreat and this one was a silent retreat. It was the first silent retreat I ever went on. It was held near Bailey's Harbor in beautiful Door County, Wisconsin on the shores of Kangaroo Lake.
Since this was my first silent retreat I was not quite sure what I suppose to do. Our retreat master had only two rules we had to follow. 1. No talking was allowed during the retreat except during our conferences and 2. We were not allowed to pray.
WHAT!! NOT ALLOWED TO PRAY?? I THOUGHT THAT IS WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU WERE ON RETREAT!!!!!
"No!" we were told, "on this retreat you are to listen to what God had to say to you."
Well I guess I will give it a try. So I went down by the lake to sit and see what God would say to me. But the waves (which were about 3 inches high), came crashing on the shore making so much noise, that I could not hear a thing. This isn't working I thought to myself. Maybe I'll take a walk in the woods instead.
As I walked down the lane between the rows of trees the bird were making such a racket, and the wind (a slight breeze) was roaring through the trees, and the leaves rustling so loudly that it was deafening. It sounded like I was standing next to a 747 getting ready for takeoff. There has got to be a quiet place around here somewhere.
So I went into the fireplace room in one part of the building that we were in. As I sat on some pillows on the couch that surrounded the huge fireplace I thought, at last some quiet space. I can watch the small fire that someone had made and listen to hear what God has to say to me. Then the wood started to pop and crackle so loud that it hurt my ears and I thought I would have to find some ear plugs before I go deaf.
WHERE CAN I FIND A QUIET PLACE AROUND HERE ?????
I know! the library it has got to be quiet there. But on my way there I stopped in a little room where they had new and used books for sale. I looked around and said silently, God give me a sign as to what you want me to do. Then I saw it, the book that looked like it was ready to fall off the shelf. I thought "OK God maybe you want me to read this book". So I took it off the shelf and read the title:
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GOD SPEAKS!
Okay Lord let's see what you want to say to me. It was a book of poems and the first one was titled SLEEP. It started out something like this. I dislike a man who does not sleep, it is one of my greatest creations.
Well when God speaks you better listen so I decided to go up to my room and take a nap. Let me tell you that was the most refreshing retreat I ever went on. God knew I needed to rest to get ready for the things He had in store for me....and the adventure continues.......
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