Post by geedee on Nov 7, 2009 0:26:33 GMT -8
During a spiritual retreat a few years ago,it was sunset and we were asked to gather in the garden outside and to stand up, stretch out our arms and imagine we were nailed to a cross. and to think of all the things around us that were causing us pain and suffering.
about sixty people standing a few feet apart from each other with their arms outstretched and left like that for ten minutes. it became really painful to keep your arms up and most people had to lower them every so often.
we had spent the day following talks and taking part in seminars. doing theatre work with the youngsters who had come on the retreat. we were all exhausted and usually looked forward to the evening activities when we played silly games and sang and danced until bedtime so this was a bit puzzling for al of us.
i found it really uncomfortable and started to imagine the pain of being nailed to a cross. it was really scary and weird. we were asked to reflect on how much suffering there was around us. then one of our guides asked us to move closer to each other but to keep our arms outstretched. we shuffled together until our fingertips were touching each other...just a few centimetres more and our fingers were resting comfortably on our neighbour's shoulders. and the relief was immediate! it was a wonderful awakening exercise for us all and moved many to tears with its simplicity.
sharing a cross is the first step to recovery and that is exactly what we are doing here in this fellowship. thank you to you all for sharing your cross with me and helping me to carry mine. thank you from the bottom of my heart.
about sixty people standing a few feet apart from each other with their arms outstretched and left like that for ten minutes. it became really painful to keep your arms up and most people had to lower them every so often.
we had spent the day following talks and taking part in seminars. doing theatre work with the youngsters who had come on the retreat. we were all exhausted and usually looked forward to the evening activities when we played silly games and sang and danced until bedtime so this was a bit puzzling for al of us.
i found it really uncomfortable and started to imagine the pain of being nailed to a cross. it was really scary and weird. we were asked to reflect on how much suffering there was around us. then one of our guides asked us to move closer to each other but to keep our arms outstretched. we shuffled together until our fingertips were touching each other...just a few centimetres more and our fingers were resting comfortably on our neighbour's shoulders. and the relief was immediate! it was a wonderful awakening exercise for us all and moved many to tears with its simplicity.
sharing a cross is the first step to recovery and that is exactly what we are doing here in this fellowship. thank you to you all for sharing your cross with me and helping me to carry mine. thank you from the bottom of my heart.
