Prepare our hearts for the annual BT retreat

每次的靈修之旅都只能「一期一會」。 在靈修期間, 我們所做的跟我們在家裡的起居飲食並無分別，祇是我們學習在基督裡的安靜去「做這事、做那事」(雅各書4:15)，並且有意識地「我用耶穌的愛去愛」(天國之歌第59首)。

我們將一同吃每頓飯。 吃飯可以是一個感恩的表達 (天國之歌第9首)。 我們應該盡心盡性盡意盡力地為每頓飯去領悟我們存在的恩典 (天國之歌第12首)， 為了可以意識到很多生命的元素，例如雨，陽光，地球，空氣和愛，全部已經一同來形成這頓極美好的晚飯了。 這一切正是神所創造並提供給我們的。

早晨醒來，我們在寂靜中祈禱 (天國之歌第17首)。 知道在我們之前有嶄新的24小時。 你會決定為神，在生命的每一片刻都完全地用憐憫與愛的目光去看周圍的人與事嗎 (天國之歌第65首)。

「安寧和安靜」(天國之歌47及22首) 正是我們選擇在靈修之旅期間去體驗的。 使我們在日常生活中經歷過的誘惑及被傷害得到潔淨。 我們允許安寧和安靜進入我們的肉體和骨頭 (天國之歌24首)。

深層的鬆弛會帶來透徹的個人反映。 這樣做，不但可以允許我們的身心得到休息，更讓神的話語觸動我們的心 (天國之歌第1首)，使我們在覺悟到神的偉大和我們的微小同時， 可以擺脫我們在痛苦和感覺中與神的疏離，重拾與天上的父和好的關係 (天國之歌第49首)，從而令我們的內心及與周圍的人的關係也得到和好。

「心意更新」是重新徹底而誠實地去察看我門自己的內心 (天國之歌56首)，包括我們過去的行為、講話和想法，再去創造新的自我，和與神及其它人的關係。 能够看透別人的長處，使我們也可以看見神賜給自己的好素質。

當我們在靈修之旅完畢後回家時，我們感到被連結，不再在基督的身體裡感到孤單 (天國之歌第36首)。 我們都被大大的祝福了(天國之歌40首)。 Amen!

Every Retreat could only be once in a life time. In the retreat, we do very much the same things as when we are at home – walking, sitting, eating, sleeping etc. – except we learn to do them with quietness in Christ, with an awareness that we are doing it with Jesus’ love.

We will eat every meal together. Eating meals could be a practice of gratefulness. We should try to offer our presence for every meal, to realize that many elements, such as the rain, sunshine, earth, air and love, have all come together to form this wonderful meal. And they are offered to us by God who created the world and us.

Wake up in the morning, we pray in the quietness. Knowing there are 24 brand new hours before us. Will you vote to live fully in each moment for God and look at beings with eyes of compassion and love?

Stillness and quietness are opt to observing during the retreat. This is very purifying towards our life temptations and hurts. We allow the stillness and the calmness to penetrate our flesh and bones.

Deep relaxation leads to a transparant reflection. Allow ourselves to rest in both the body and mind. Let God’s gospel to touch our hearts to knowing His Greatness and our smallness, to release our suffering and feeling of alienation and reconcile with our goldly Father, our sisters and our inner self.

To begin anew is to look deeply and honestly at ourselves, our past actions, speech and thoughts and to create a fresh beginning within ourselves and in our relationship with God and others. Recognizing others positive traits allows us to see our own good qualities as well.

When we return home after the retreat, we feel connected and not alone in the body of Christ. We are all blessed.

With love, bonnie in Christ.