“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”
Psalms 42:1-2
Retreat is about paying attention to the soul’s thirst for connection with the living God. As a community Ancient Streams honours this fundamental longing in the soul for time alone with God by offering a rhythm of retreats throughout the year: Fall, Advent, Lent, and Spring. We have found that as we make space in our lives for retreat, our relationship with God is deepened and our lives become less driven and more fruitful.
A prayer of the Northumbria Celtic community expresses well our own intention:
“May we protect each other’s times for silence.
Give us courage to say:
Leave me alone with God
as much as may be.
As the tide draws the waters
close in upon the shore,
make me an island, set apart,
alone with You, God.
holy to You.
Then with the turning of the tide,
prepare me to carry Your presence
to the busy world beyond,
the world that rushes in on me,
till the waters come again
and fold me back to You.”
Taken from Northumbria Community’s, Celtic Daily Prayer; pp. 160-161; published by Collins; used with permission.
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