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Following the Mystics Through the Narrow Gate:
A Contemplative Retreat with James Finley
June 10-14 2009

OVERVIEW

This event will be limited to 30 people.

We are living at a rare moment in history, a time of great transition and transformation. When such forces introduce chaos into our lives they also bring opportunities to evaluate the path we are on through a renewed perspective. So often when great changes come into our lives, we come to a standstill or we retreat into our histories, looking to the past for direction for the future, only to discover that the past has no answers. It is the wise person who is capable of realizing that human beings alone could never be the source of such extraordinary change. This season that has come upon all of us is a time of divine transformation and looking to understand the meaning and purpose of how such change will affect our lives requires that we learn to perceive our lives through the tools of mystical thought. If you go into a moment of quiet reflection, you can sense that even the most subtle part of your thinking is already focusing on the more profound questions of life, such as, "What is really going on in this world and what do all these changes mean for me?" In truth, we are all being directed to ask those questions because inherently in times of great change, we are drawn to our inner resources. We look to God, however it is we define God in our lives. The Divine is our ever present compass and in this workshop, the focus is to provide a language for this quest by way of the great classic mystics who came to know the Divine through their own spiritual path.

It is a gift to feel the desire to experience God's presence in our lives. But it can be discouraging to realize how easily this desire becomes lost in our daily distractions and concerns. In this retreat we will gather in a beautiful and relaxing setting , where we can turn to the mystics for guidance in the subtle art form of surrendering to the desire for God that God has placed in our hearts. Taking the mystics as our guide, we will see how it is possible to live a deep contemplative life in the midst of today's world.

The mystics I have chosen as our guides on this inner journey are among those that have guided me in my own inner journey; namely, Meister Eckhart, Blessed John Ruusbroec, The anonymous author of The Cloud of Unknowing Saint John of the Cross, Theresa of Avila, and Thomas Merton and the teachings of Zen Buddhism.

Rather, then attempt an in-depth inquiry of any single mystic, we will instead commit ourselves to an informal, but in-depth exploration into how the mystics understood what Jesus meant when he said, "Narrow is the gate that t leads to life and few there are who enter it(Mt. 7:14)." We will see how the mystics understood this gate to be hidden within ourselves, where the depths of=2 0our own soul meet, merge and open out into the depths of God.

James Finley

In this retreat we will:

• Follow the mystics as they teach us how we begin the journey inward, toward the gate that grants passage into God. We will see what they tell us about how to recognize and pass beyond the obstacles we encounter along the way.
• Learn from the mystics how to tell we are getting close to the gate, and how to pass through it into mystical union with God. We20will pay close attention to the paradoxical fact that this gate is so narrow that only God and all that in us that is of God can fit through. If we try to take anything with us that is less than God we get stuck. But as learn to die to all that is less than God as the basis of our security, we pass right through, like water through a sieve. And, much to our delight, we discover God simultaneously passing through the gate into us. We will see how, in passing through this gate we come to realize that the obstacles to union with God are neither our busy schedules nor our limitations, but rather all that hinders us from living in a simple and humble abandonment to God in the midst of all that life might send our way.
• We will find consolation and encouragement in what the mystics to tell us about the joys of mystical union that await us on the other side of the gate. We will see what they say about the great surprise of discovering that in passing through the gate we do not go anywhere! Rather, we awaken the unitive mystery that is at once all that God is and all that we really are. We will see how this awakening allows us to be someone in whose presence others can sense something of their own value in God's eyes.

The retreat is intended for those just newly awakened to the contemplative path as well for more seasoned travelers. The emphasis will be on the practical concerns of meditation, prayer and other aspects of the perpetual conversion that we undergo in seeking to be faithful to the interior path in the midst of today's busy world. Time will be given for periods of silent meditation, personal reflection and discussion of the themes presented. The retreat will end with suggestions on how to continue being faithful to this mystical path at home.

No reading is necessary prior to the retreat; however, the following sources will most likely be among the key resources we will be reflecting on during the retreat: (a suggested reading list will follow.)

6/10 Wednesday Dinner / Workshop at Manor House Hotel
6/11 Thursday: Workshop
6/12 Friday: Workshop
6/13 Saturday: Workshop
6/14 Sunday: Workshop 3:00pm workshop is over.

Click here to read about the Manor House »