Deep Speaks To Deep: The Mystery We Call God
Emily Wilmer, a gifted spiritual director and workshop leader in the USA and UK led a retreat for City House volunteers at Colonial Church in Edina.
Emily made the point that in serving the poor as spiritual companions, that City House volunteers are honoring the God seed that is in each of us. She asserted that we experience the mystery of God as being “Other” than ourselves, and that by abandoning ourselves to the poor, that we are in fact abandoning ourselves to God.
She talked about the radical nature of abandoning ourselves to God, that it goes beyond surrendering. That sentiment was captured so eloquently in phrases of Prayer of Abandonment by Charles de Foucauld - “I abandon myself into your hand”; “I am ready for all, I accept all.”; “to surrender myself into your hands, without reserves and with boundless confidence”
Emily went on with passion and depth about the mysterious force that drives our desires, of which we are unaware - that is beneath our desires. It was again captured so beautifully in phrases from “A Prayer Before Silent Prayer” by Ed Hayes - “Divine and Hidden Friend”; “your Spirit’s silent song, ever flowing like a river deep within”
Emily shared a video with us “A Human Thread” - a documentary on Lisa Kristine - an incredibly talented photographer that takes stunning photos of persons around the world, many of whom are from third world countries. Lisa talked with a deep sense of call about the way she abandons herself to her work.
I left the retreat feeling more alive and more wonderous, keenly more aware of God at work in the very depths of my being, beyond my awareness, and yet trustworthy.
