Sequestered

As I reclined on the couch the steady drone of a TV hummed in the background. I reflected over the last three days as my eyelids slowly moved to the closed position. It had been a long and thought provoking weekend. I was fortunate to be one of the twelve that spent three days sequestered in a remote isolated place…away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. When I first heard of this place I thought it was a campsite near and dear to the owner’s heart because he referred to it as, “Dear Camp”. Later I discovered it was a base camp he used for hunting deer, hence the name, “Deer Camp”. The English language can be so confusing…especially for me. Not to digress…the twelve of us gathered together to fast and pray for the success of a concurrent ACTS retreat involving nearly one hundred other men.
We all gathered each day for morning, mid morning, noon, afternoon, evening and night prayers in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament. At all other times we held vigil adoring Our Lord and Savior in shifts. Around the clock, in a little room with its walls cover by white sheets to camouflage its normal use, we prayed, meditated and just hung out with God.
Each day we would fast until evening then would take our nourishment from a bowl of soup or some sea urchins and vegetables boiled in water. I must admit…either the food was 4-Star quality or I was very hungry…possibly both.
Late one night as the clock hands approached midnight my prayer partner and I sat in silent adoration…my eyes struggled to stay opened… my mind shrouded in a thick fog, my belly full from the meal…I struggled to process any cognitive thoughts.
I wondered if this was how the apostles felt on that fateful Thursday night in the garden of Gethsemane.
I stared at the golden monstrance, I stared at its contents, and while my heart told me this should be a goose-bump moment…my brain questioned how could this really be God?
I whispered my faith questioning concern to my prayer partner. He admitted at times he also had similar questions, but explained that while his brain had questions…his heart had faith...and in his heart he knew it was God. Later, I searched the bible, in vain, for the word “brain”. I could not find “brain”, not even once, in either the Old or New Testament. I also looked for the word “heart” and found it mentioned over thirty three times. That’s interesting!
I suppose my brain is necessary for those mundane math problems and basic motor skills but it would be better to live by my heart…where God makes known the truth without confusion or question.
Thank you, Father God, for a wonderful wondrous world, an incredible weekend Desert Retreat and eleven brothers to spend it with.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for another 100 men who learned a little more about You and Your awesome love for us.
Thank you, Holy Spirit, for a heart that trumps all those tricks played by my brain.
Amen.