When you say nothing at all….
(With apologies to Alison Kraus)
This next weekend Tim will be leaving town, no big deal you say. Heading to Door County, Wisconsin. Nice, but still nothing odd. Wait a minute. Why is he going there? For a silent retreat. Ahh. Wait a second, a Silent Retreat. Silent Retreat? What the heck is that?
It is a block of time where no speaking is done. None, not even a whisper. And, no TV, Internet, telephone, cell phone, fax machine and so on. (Now the eyebrows raise.)
Why would anyone do that to themselves? Is he a very religious man? Well, the answer to the second question is that Tim would say he is a very spiritual person, so something like this fits well in his life.
The answer to the first question begs another question, or least a visualization.
Picture this. Two days where your cell phone never rang, no one asked for answers to questions, or wanted to read a reply to an email they sent. Two days where the world events, which these days seem to be filled with war and tragedy and strife of all sorts were outside of your concern.
This is something Tim has organized for the past 5 years and been going to for about 6 years before that. A rough estimate puts this at about the 25th time he has done this sort of thing. He will not be alone. There are 24 other people going.
Mostly folks spend the time walking the 144 acres of farmland, reading, listening to music and contemplating their lives.
Amazing things happen on a silent retreat. Decisions about life such as marriage or divorce have been made, coming to terms with a terminal illness or a need to get help for one’s health. Once we remove the day to day distractions we can get at that “Still small voice” inside of us, that for some that is the voice of God, which guides us, but we are too busy to stop and listen. When we stop the need to hold conversations, to communicate, we can hear that voice. It can be a deeply moving experience.
Some take the opportunity to relax and de-stress and recharge their ‘batteries’. Not having obligations for a few days can do that. You need only show up for your meals if you want them and take one turn at running dishes through the dishwasher (with 3 other people). It’s not like a vacation where you go somewhere and do something, but here, you go someplace and don’t need to do anything. Take a walk when you like, watch the clouds roll past, listen to music, take a couple of naps.. The time is yours.
It’s a nice break from day-to-day living.
Some do find the idea intimidating, including one future Minister Tim spoke with recently, who said he could never picture himself not saying anything for 3 days. Meals are taken in silence and for many reasons that is the part that scares a lot of folks, including Tim on his first silent retreat. But, you know, when most of us eat we are reading the paper, watching TV or holding a conversation with someone. The food is secondary. Eating in silence can be an opportunity to realize all the people who are involved in bringing food to our table and, yes, even the chicken that laid the egg.
While today’s blog entry may not at first blush have anything to do with music, or holding a party or holding a successful event, go back and re-read it again perhaps, with this thought in mind; if life were a party, what would I need to do to make it happen? Would it be great to take a moment or two and appreciate the party?
Life is a party, an event, a occasion. We are only here for a blink of any eye in the full length of time, we need to make the most of it.
To make the most of your next event, let us, Radio Record Hop play for you. We are experienced professionals with over 20 years of time working together. Something not many others can say. You can visit us at www.radiorecordhop.com.
(With apologies to Alison Kraus)
This next weekend Tim will be leaving town, no big deal you say. Heading to Door County, Wisconsin. Nice, but still nothing odd. Wait a minute. Why is he going there? For a silent retreat. Ahh. Wait a second, a Silent Retreat. Silent Retreat? What the heck is that?
It is a block of time where no speaking is done. None, not even a whisper. And, no TV, Internet, telephone, cell phone, fax machine and so on. (Now the eyebrows raise.)
Why would anyone do that to themselves? Is he a very religious man? Well, the answer to the second question is that Tim would say he is a very spiritual person, so something like this fits well in his life.
The answer to the first question begs another question, or least a visualization.
Picture this. Two days where your cell phone never rang, no one asked for answers to questions, or wanted to read a reply to an email they sent. Two days where the world events, which these days seem to be filled with war and tragedy and strife of all sorts were outside of your concern.
This is something Tim has organized for the past 5 years and been going to for about 6 years before that. A rough estimate puts this at about the 25th time he has done this sort of thing. He will not be alone. There are 24 other people going.
Mostly folks spend the time walking the 144 acres of farmland, reading, listening to music and contemplating their lives.
Amazing things happen on a silent retreat. Decisions about life such as marriage or divorce have been made, coming to terms with a terminal illness or a need to get help for one’s health. Once we remove the day to day distractions we can get at that “Still small voice” inside of us, that for some that is the voice of God, which guides us, but we are too busy to stop and listen. When we stop the need to hold conversations, to communicate, we can hear that voice. It can be a deeply moving experience.
Some take the opportunity to relax and de-stress and recharge their ‘batteries’. Not having obligations for a few days can do that. You need only show up for your meals if you want them and take one turn at running dishes through the dishwasher (with 3 other people). It’s not like a vacation where you go somewhere and do something, but here, you go someplace and don’t need to do anything. Take a walk when you like, watch the clouds roll past, listen to music, take a couple of naps.. The time is yours.
It’s a nice break from day-to-day living.
Some do find the idea intimidating, including one future Minister Tim spoke with recently, who said he could never picture himself not saying anything for 3 days. Meals are taken in silence and for many reasons that is the part that scares a lot of folks, including Tim on his first silent retreat. But, you know, when most of us eat we are reading the paper, watching TV or holding a conversation with someone. The food is secondary. Eating in silence can be an opportunity to realize all the people who are involved in bringing food to our table and, yes, even the chicken that laid the egg.
While today’s blog entry may not at first blush have anything to do with music, or holding a party or holding a successful event, go back and re-read it again perhaps, with this thought in mind; if life were a party, what would I need to do to make it happen? Would it be great to take a moment or two and appreciate the party?
Life is a party, an event, a occasion. We are only here for a blink of any eye in the full length of time, we need to make the most of it.
To make the most of your next event, let us, Radio Record Hop play for you. We are experienced professionals with over 20 years of time working together. Something not many others can say. You can visit us at www.radiorecordhop.com.
posted by Radio Record Hop at 8:57 AM
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