During this Lent period, I signed up and joined our parish's Ignatius Spirituality Retreat.  It was held on each Tuesday evening for eight weeks.  The weather was wintery most of the time and I went through some struggle trying to fit in my tight schedule with some scripture readings and reflections.  In the beginning I was a bit intimidated to go, worrying about what I would be sharing with my group.......Then I got over the fear knowing whatever I did God would be accepting me as I was, not demanding more, better.  He loved me the way I was.  "He is compassionate and accepts me totally one hundred percent!"  I was embraced in His gentle loving care and I had no fear anymore! 

I've always wanted to be closer to Lord, and this retreat taught me how.  By reading scriptures and meditating and reflecting on the words, one would start to understand what it meant to be a Christian, to follow Jesus's example and to walk His path.........  I also know now to differentiate spiritual consulation and spiritual desolation.  I am quoting a phrase in my handout about spiritual consolation to share with friends reading this sharing.

"Spiritual Consolation is an inner movement tht we experience when we are in tune with God's desire for us.  It is an experience of God's love that energizes us an builds up the Christ-life in us  -It always produces a response which is outward in direstion, self-forgeting and self-transcending.  It leads to love of the real self, to love of other people as they are, to love of the world as it is and to unconditional love of God.  It is characterized by peace, joy, deeper faith, trust, optimism, and gratitude."