Since Easter I have been very busy, and as consequence I have not had much time to myself. I had a wonderful vacation in Hawaii, but that was with family, and time for solitude was not there. This has been weighing on me for some time. After all, I preach about solitude, I advocate it, I believe that it is an essential discipline for counteracting the false messages of our culture and world.

But when it all comes down to it, the only way to get it is make time for it. One must get out the calendar and make plans. Be ruthless about this. Finally, I did this, and on last Friday I drove up to New Clairvaux Monastery in Vina, California (about 20 minutes north of Chico) and had a Day of Prayer. I checked in about 6:30pm and got settled in my room. At 7:35pm, the monks chant Compline and I went and prayed in the Sanctuary while they prayed the Office. After that I went back to my room. I worked on my sermon for a while, read some of the Scriptures, and was quiet before God. I then went to bed.

The next morning I woke up early (I always do) and spent the morning reading Morning Prayer, reading out of the Book of Proverbs, and praying. For part of the time, I was just setting silent in the presence of God. The monastery is very quiet. There were a few other people on retreat there, and occasionally during the day you see the monks or staff working on the grounds. But during the whole day, I probably said less than twenty words. There is a guest kitchen  with simple foods for breakfast and lunch. The suggested donation for the day is $50.00.  You need to change the linens on the bed before you leave, but everything is provided.

It was a wonderful time of being quiet before God, thinking about my life, my ministry at St. Paul’s, about things I need to do, and about some things that I need to stop. This was a truly great time, and I can’t reccomend this highly enough. Call the Guestmaster at New Claivaux Monastery and schedule a time for yourself. It is well worth it.

Blessings, Father David.