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| This is the retreat center and hotel. |
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| Inside Sts. Isidore and Maria Church on the grounds |
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| One of the many beautiful sun rises that can be seen across the prairie surrounding the retreat center. |
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| Our Lady of the Prairie |
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| One of the outdoor Stations of the Cross |
Be careful what you ask of God, He might just give it to you. I am one of those people who St. Teresa says sins so often that they can't see their sins. The examination of conscience guides have been no help, so I've struggled with confession. My walk on Saturday opened my eyes. God gave me the grace to see all of the wrong that I had been doing. It was very hard to take this reality check. It's a real shock to discover that you're not as good as you think you are.
I had the luck of going to confession that night and left Sunday a much more humble person.
Thank you for opening my eyes, Lord, so that I may be more like you.
Today is the end of the first full day of my silent retreat at Broom Tree Retreat Center near Irene, SD. It started yesterday at 6, but today was really the first day. I thought that not chatting would be the hardest part. Was I ever wrong. The hardest part was getting all of the voices in my head to shut up so that God could talk. I am so used to all the noise of everyday life and all of it's distractions that my mind didn't know what to do in all this quiet. As the day has gone on the noise has been going away and God's voice is getting clearer.
Last night after Mass, I got the clear vision of Jesus with hand out beaconing me to walk with him. With all the noise in my head I avoided him. Being the patient and merciful God he humored me and just stood on that path all day. Until tonight that is. At eucharistic adoration He spoke again. He said, "Tomorrow you will walk with me." I, of course, could only answer with "Ok." To be perfectly honest, my mind was starting to wander when he spoke up, so I was a little startled. So I guess tomorrow I better be ready to listen.
