This last weekend, I went to a retreat house for an individual retreat. I went there alone bringing my clothes with me and other things for my personal hygiene. I left my home, I left my common world behind to find a place where I can find peace and silence. To spend time in prayer, to know God more and to discover my purpose and my vocation.
When I came there, I was welcomed by some friendly nuns. I thought it was Jesus welcoming me in his sanctuary. I love the place, its very quiet and peaceful. A perfect place to spend in prayer and to talk to your inner self.
I spent most of my time there inside the prayer room even if I wasn't praying. Only me and the blessed sacrament alone.
I imagine Jesus asking me, Why you are here? You supposed to be praying.
and my answer would be, I am here, simply because you are here.
A time spent with God will never be a wasted time, even if I am only sitting there doing nothing. And then I realize something, I am not the one talking to Jesus, but it is Jesus who was talking to me and there is nothing I could do but to just sit there and listen to Him. I listen not with my ears but with my heart.
It is not I who was looking for Jesus, but is Jesus who was looking for me.
Spend some time with Jesus, He also wants to talk to you. Search for him in the most simplest place that you can ever imagine. In your room, in your office, in the church, anywhere. just seek and you will find him.
We must consider all the time we spent with Jesus as the greatest moments of our lives...
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And so the time came and I need to go home. During those 2 days and 1 night at the retreat house I felt like home. With the RVM sisters who guided me and with Jesus who invites me to come to his peaceful sanctuary in Tagaytay. I am now ready to face new challenges because Jesus is my teammate and we can do all things together. In the midst of every trial the only thing we need to do is to be calm and listen to the voice of our God saying, "Be still and know that I am God".
I have learned many things on the retreat, especially about my personal purpose why I decided to take a retreat. It is personal and I don't want to share it right now.
What i just shared to you is only one of the many many ways of encountering Jesus.
I found Jesus in that place, but there is one place that you can find him without moving where you are right now. I will ask the question again, Where is the best place to find God?
The answer is on our heart. You can go to many place and search for him, but you will never find Him if you will not look into your heart first. He is with us, He is Emmanuel.
I found Him. no wonder He said "seek and you shall find".
But in the moment that you found him, don't ever think that it was us who found God. It was not us look for him first, but it was He who search for us.
May your life be truly blessed,
Ash
