Two weeks is about 4 percent of a year. Not much, a person could say. Sometimes two weeks can be the difference between life and more life.
Thursday, October 22nd was the beginning of the Walk to Emmaus (Christian retreat). Eighteen months ago I was a pilgrim (participant) in the Walk and had a life-enhancing, make that life-changing experience. So when I was asked to be a part of the team leading the Walk, I humbly agreed. The Walk goes from Thursday night through Sunday afternoon. I quickly discovered that there were aspects of the Walk that I had forgotten, so it felt like another first-time experience again.
There are talks given by lay persons and clergy and the Holy Spirit was with each and everyone of them as they delivered their messages. I say that because part of our upfront training for the Walk is to spend four Saturdays listening to the talks and critiquing them. What was often a very rough version of a talk during our training sessions were talks given as if they were all professional speakers. It was awesome to see the transformation, courtesy of the Holy Spirit and prayers surrounding them.
The pilgrims are divided into groups to sit at a table with a table leader and assistant table leader (me). It was very evident during the first morning that we had some ladies that may require special attention and prayers. There was a lady with ADHD; an unemployed lady with Fibromyalgia and a victim of sexual abuse; an elderly lady that was a wife of a pastor who didn't know "why?" she "needed" the retreat. I wondered how the table leaders of my past retreat would have described me? A lady that is withdrawn, angry and bitter.
Sometime during the first day, I thought, "Remember that Jesus comes to us in all types of ways." Was He coming to me in the lady with flighty movements and no attention span? Was He coming to me in the lady that cried a lot? Was He coming to me in the lady that knew it all? How would Jesus want to be treated? I found myself reaching out and touching them, sometimes not saying anything. Not saying anything because I was not sure my words would be kind and considerate as Jesus deserved, so I just touched them to let them know I was here for them. And with those touches, I felt the warmth of love and acceptance flow into me. Jesus was speaking back to me.
I wish I could say that it was all rosy for the whole weekend, but I have to admit that by Saturday afternoon, I went to a director and asked for prayer. I was worn-out, worried and I just needed to cry and pray. Both the crying and the prayer helped immensely. By the end of the retreat, I could see and hear that the lady with ADHD had so much knowledge; the lady with pain could smile again; and the lady who didn't need the retreat could say "Wow!" and vowing to get her friends to the next retreat.
At the end of the Walk, I could only say that I felt like a woman giving birth, so thankful for the end of the process and vowing to "never do it again" yet knowing that with time the pain will fade.
It was Sunday evening and I wanted to relax, but there was laundry to do so that I could finish packing for our trip. Monday morning at 5 am, we were on the road to San Antonio (four hours) to catch a plane (cheaper airfare if we flew from San Antonio) to Florida. We were going on a cruise! I have tried to talk hubby into going on a cruise for years and he's had no desire as his "last cruise was in 1969 in the Navy." So last year, he found a cruise he wanted to go on and now we're going.
I had never been on a ship for eight days so I was uncertain on how my body would react and accept the cruise. Luckily for us, the seas were calm and I had no qualms about cruising. We left port on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday, we woke up in Bahamas. Went snorkeling and based on the photos we took, I can not snorkel and take photos at the same time... my thumb was in most of the pictures! After the snorkeling, we partied at Senor Frog's. The next day we were at Half Moon Cay, a private island owned by the cruise lines to be used specifically for their cruises. The beach was awesome with sugary, white sands and turquoise water. It was so relaxing, there is no other way to describe it. Friday, we traveled to Key West, arriving in time to go to Mallory Square and take pictures of the sunset. Lots of pictures! Key West was celebrating Fantasy Fest, an annual celebration that involves costumes of all sorts and body painting of all sorts.
I remember years ago, hubby calling for me to come to the computer and "look at this." When I first viewed the photos, I thought, "what beautiful costumes" people in the photos were wearing. Then hubby said, "they are not costumes, it's painted on their body." Wow! Very unique. These photos intrigued both of us and Fantasy Fest was one of the reasons he decided on this particular cruise trip.
Anyway, the cruise stayed in Key West for two days so we got to view all kinds of costumes and paintings, strolling the streets and watching the parade. Hubby opted for a couple of temporary tattoos on his chest courtesy of Captain Morgan's Rum, sponsor of the Fantasy Fest. We also toured Mel Fisher's museum and got to view some of the ship-wreck treasures.
Sunday was a day at sea and a day of rest, reading, and spending time by the pool. Monday, we woke up in Cozumel and we took a fast ferry to the Mexico mainland, Playa del Carmen. We boarded a bus there for an hour-long bus ride to Tulum, site of an ancient Mayan ruins. The ruins were fascinating, situated right by the ocean. Got a chance to go down to the beach below the ruins and cool off.
Tuesday was another day at sea and hubby's birthday. He started the day reading a book (his favorite activity) out on the balcony of our stateroom and in the evening we had a birthday dinner and last stroll out on the deck watching the full moon shimmer on the ocean. What a way to end the cruise.
Wednesday, we woke up Fort Lauderdale, Florida port and spent the day traveling back home. Thursday was a laundry day and try-and-get-my-land-legs-back day! I was still a-rockin' and a-rollin' that day. :) Well, yesterday, Friday, I went into work and I feel so refreshed. I really missed all of my co-workers. They are such a great group of people to work with, I'm so fortunate that I could spend two weeks away and not have to worry about the running of our department.
Two weeks is only 4 percent of a year. Yet what wonders of rejoicing, rejuvenation, relaxation, and refreshment can occur in that small time span. It certainly gives the physical, emotional, and spiritual being a new PEACE.
