To get out of your normal day-to-day operation, both to get a rest and get a different perspective is the main objective of a retreat. This obviates getting lost in the forest because of the trees. With the nose to the grindstone, we may not be aware of the impact of what we normally do or see the possibilities within our reach. We may lose opportunities. Even within the day, we can set aside a few minutes to relax, breathe deeply, and view our plans and operations from a different perspective. With a retreat for a day or even a week for every year, the direction of our lives may point more effectively to our goals and aspirations.

In a spiritual retreat, St. Ignatius, who impacted Europe in the post-medieval centuries, says the objective is to allow man to meet God, his Creator, in direct fashion. Secondly it is also to realize how close God is to man. Ignatius claims encounters with the Father although he could not describe it, since the Father has no material body. He described encounters with the Son who took human form to make it easier for us to return His love. He recounts the Father telling the Son, carrying His cross, to accept him (Ignatius) to be His companion. This direct contact with God is possible for every one.

Many have experienced contact with God beginning from St. Paul as he fell from his horse. From all eternity, God loved you and me in His Son, Jesus. We can imagine the thundering voice of God through the galaxies and the centuries saying, “I love you, (Totoy, or Inday, or your secret name).” But can we hear Him? Amidst the distractions of daily cares, the thundering “I love you” may not be heard and we cannot respond with our own “Minamahal kita.” Silence and solitude may be necessary
Men of faith believe this encounter is critical to the basic Christian commandment: To love God with all your heart, with all your strength, and with your whole soul. Besides the cares of the day, the attractions of the world, the flesh, and the devil dictate the need for a retreat. The tension between self-centeredness and God-centeredness

ELECTIONS. Comelec may tabulate the presidential elections results at the Araneta Coliseum in 2010 - Blue Eagles (Noynoy-Mar) vs Green Archers (Gibo-Edu) vs UP Maroons (Manny Villar-Loren). Erap’s alma mater depends on whether Loyola Heights will embrace him back or not.

Chairman Jose Melo says that there are enough closet gays in Congress and he does not need to give Ladlad a majority.

The Public Relations Society of the Philippines will elect Board of Directors at Intercontinental Manila. Sonny Valencia, PRSP’s “Comelec chairman,” and members Atty. Melvyn Martin and Jones Campos set elections on January 8 before the May 10, 2010, presidential elections because, as the saying goes, “Clothes make the man, but PRSP image-makers make the President!”

DIPLOMACY. When Beijing and Taipei inked financial cooperation, PROC wanted the document in simplified proletarian Mandarin; Taiwan wanted it in classical. The diplomatic sleight-of-hand: Have it both ways, each keeping the original in its preferred format. The Chinese always get the business done.

BTW, remember our debates in the 60’s if the “Free World will be resolved finally with the encounter with the Lord at the time of death. But before that time have we encountered Him in His peace and reciprocated the love offered with our own protestation of love and surrender to the Eternal love? “Flee, be silent, and be at rest,” was the motto of the desert fathers. This peace can only be achieved with “aloneness.” Modern man may almost be afraid of silence and solitude. It is the way to awareness of God’s abiding presence and the state of peace and tranquility and the quelling of inordinate passions and thoughts.

This direct encounter with God varies for each one but the possibility is there. An extra normal vision may not happen. But since God made it easier for us to reciprocate His love by taking the form of a man, He also made it possible for a visual appreciation of God through faith in the sacramental presence of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. He no longer walks with us as He did two thousand years ago but He left us a memorial in which He stays with us. By our faith we believe He is physically present in the Eucharist. emeterio_barcelon@yahoo.com