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“The entire material universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, water, mountains: everything is, as it were, a caress of God”
(Laudato Si 84)
On a retreat recently someone told me that they couldn’t pray sitting down. They loved being outside in nature, in creation, and found God there, but they couldn’t pray. One of the gifts of the retreat was an affirmation of their main way of praying – in and with creation.
In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus encourages us to look at the birds of the air and learn from the wildflowers as a way to touch into God’s providential care for the world. This must have been one of the ways Jesus himself connected with God. And what is prayer, if not connecting with God?
Looking at the birds or a sunset, listening to the ocean, smelling a rose, touching a leaf, feeling the warmth of the sun on your face can all help us to God. Sitting or walking or working with nature – sometimes called gardening – are all ways in which we can connect with God the creator, with Jesus who did similarly, with the Spirit who inhabits all that is.
This will be a day in which we will let God affirm these ways of praying. We may discover some new ways of doing this too.
As far as possible, keep the whole day free, as a retreat day.
There will be short inputs, time for sharing together and space to engage in your own prayer off-screen as well as a break for lunch.
Stephen Hoyland is a spiritual director who leads retreats in university chaplaincies and other contexts. He also loves his garden.
The requested donation for this event is £40. This is what the Jesuit Institute and Pray As You Go need to cover our costs and to support our work of making Ignatian spirituality available to as many people as possible. However, if you are unable to donate this amount for any reason, please offer what you can (or even nothing at all!). All are most welcome to attend.
