:::UPDATE::: Server problems all gone! Noon meditation, 6 hours late, here Thanks for waiting!:::END:::
Hi Folks - if you’re looking for the noon and 3PM retreat updates, please bear with me - I’m having serious server issues and lots of downtime that is preventing me from working. My Elder Son reminded me that I should just “relax and go with it” along the lines of the retreat, and he suggested that this was the sort of ironic fun most Christians encounter sometimes, along the lines of Theresa of Avila being thrown from her donkey into a river and saying to God, “this is how you treat your friends?”
Hopefully the issues will be addressed soon…but I am very sorry for the delays…Since I wrote about “sacrifice” this morning, and about “reflecting Christ,” I’ll try to look at this as a sacrifice of fun and I’ll try to reflect Christ by not contemplating the effect of sledgehammers on computers.
Meanwhile, if you can even see this - let’s have an open thread with comments until we’re back on track - we’ll be like rocks in the stream, allowing this trouble to pass around and over…but we’ll chat about it. Sort of like “changing circumstances allow for changing rules…”
Gad, bear with me - I sound more idiotic than usual.
August 14th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Hey Anchoress!
I am enjoying the retreat, even from my unusual location. I am in a hotel room in Toronto and trying my level best to follow along, bad connections and all. Hubby is here on business and wanted me and the kids to keep him company. Let’s just say your post on sacrifice hit me square between the eyes this morning!
I have been wondering since day one if you will be placing this on a permanent link on your home page? It would be so nice! I have been unable to download many of the links since my connection here in the hotel is so slow.
Thank you for maintaining this site as it is such a help to me as a new Catholic.
Marcia
***
It is important to understand that computers are powered by demonic energy. Step one of solving any problem should be vigorous cursing, frequently that minor display of evil will placate them and they will resumre proper function. Should that fail though, a blood sacrifice is usually required.
Dave Justus
[reposted from old server - admin]
August 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Thank you and all the retreat contibutors for all your hard work! The retreat has come at a time when I really need it, and I am getting a lot from it. I’m sorry you’re having server problems - I know how frustrating that is. Good luck on getting the issues resolved.
August 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Everything in God’s time. The fact that the retreat went “on hold” is enough of it’s own message don’t you think? I suspect God is not only teaching patience and acceptance, but also a reminder of who’s always in control; even despite good intentions.
Great retreat Anchoress; happy to wait out the snafu!
August 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Hubby always prays over the sound system, mics, boards - everything before a big performance.
Years ago, when we served a different church, our choir was combining with another church for a big production. It was the end of July, hot as the devil (no pun intended), humidity so thick you could see it. Storms had been boiling up all day. Five minutes or so before the start time, the church was struck by lightening and the electronics fried. Only the emergency lights worked, and of course, the AC was dead. No mics either. We sang it anyway. We weren’t about to admit defeat!
August 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
I too am really enjoying this retreat. I really needed it. Interestingly, though, I haven’t been able to check in today until now, and I was sure I would be really behind for the day. I guess not.
Computers can be very frustrating, they can be a help when you need to learn patience. I think everyone hates learning patience though. I know I do, it takes too long.
August 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Seems to be quite in keeping with the spirit of this morning’s message and of the retreat so far.
I’ll echo kerry. Thank you so much for all you have provided to us. It has been beautiful.
Perhaps we were meant to experience a more fully silent retreat this afternoon and evening. The irony is indeed delicious!
August 14th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I am really enjoying the online retreat. I am sorry you are having trouble and I hope all will be running smoothly soon again. I’ll be keeping a watchful eye, even from SeaWorld. Thank you and all those that have contributed thus far, for all your hard work!
August 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
I too have been unable to check in since the morning meditation and my first thought was “eeeek, what’s happened?” I think I heard God chuckling. The blessings I’ve received this week are not about what The Anchoress has said at all; God has only used her to touch me. It’s REALLY all about WHAT HE SAID AND IS SAYING to me. Right now He seems to be saying “hustle your own spiritual groceries” (quoting the man who led my husband to Christ).
At admin.’s request, here is the link to my blog. It’s really just a way to keep in touch with my kids as they are frequently scattered all over the country/world, so if you visit don’t go with any great expectations. http://www.xanga.com/MamaTod
Will wait patiently for your return and will continue seeking to hear God’s voice. Thank you for helping me do that better this week.
August 14th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Thank you so much for this retreat. It’s been so nice to turn on the silence, even though I’m working and living in “the world.”
I too was away from a computer today and I thought I missed so much, but God does work in mysterious ways.
Glad to see you’re back up again.
August 15th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Being in a different time zone, I hadn’t noticed the problems. Actually,considering my current situation at work, I’d be surprised if I noticed anything besides the fact that we are overworked and overstressed as well as underpaid.
The retreat has been a good counterpoint to all this. I am a nurse in pediatric surgery at a Jerusalem hospital and it has been a busy summer with lots of tragic stuff and difficult people. If I did not feel I had a calling to be here, a real mission, it would be so easy to find a nice quiet job in a clinic somewhere. But I have an agreement with G-d that as long as He gives me the health and strength and nerve to go on here, I will endeavor to do so.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to stop at the beginning, middle, or end of a heavy day to think ad be mindful of what I’m doing and why. On the one hand, not much of a “retreat”, on the other hand, ironically, very much so.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Bless you and all the retreatants.
Steve
August 15th, 2008 at 11:37 am
The retreat has been wonderful…filled with spiritual things, music, thoughts to ponder, and a whole host of things that cause me to pause in my daily life and give thanks for so much. What you are doing here is right at the top of that list!
August 15th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
LOVE hearing you sing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (And you can tell Elder Son & Buster that!)
August 15th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
The Frame Up…
“When I was a boy I had a fleeting glimpse Out of the corner of my eye” — Pink Floyd, Comfortably Numb The inscape of our world is always with us, omnipresent; a third that walks beside us. We are the ones who shut it out, who lose the thread when …