It's Personal: A Different Kind of Adventure

I'm not particularly adventurous. In fact, I'm rather risk averse. Yes, I took off across the country in a half-packed Mitsubishi Galant unsure where I might land. But I still haven't been out of the state in which I now live - apart from flying home - more than thrice. Okay, I once purchased part of a horse named White Tex in an internet venture when I was in college; the horse broke its leg. But I've never played the lottery. And I've been to the casino twice in my life and have spent maybe about $20.

And when I tell you what I think my greatest adventure thus far has been, you might think me a bit of a square. But I challenge you to attempt this adventure...

It was just after the winter vacation of my second year in the seminary. The pre-Theologians (those who have not yet attained a philosophy degree and can therefore not attend theology classes or wear a collar) were at what I seem to remember was St. Williams Hall just up the road from the main seminary building. We were there for a retreat.

Tangent: I loved retreats when I was in the seminary. A time to reflect and read. A time to sleep and relax. A time to center one's self. We had retreats immediately before every winter/spring semester in the seminary. And during the summer with the Archdiocese.

It was an Ignatian Retreat.

Tangent: Ignatius of Loyola was founder of the Society of Jesus otherwise known as the Jesuits. His Spiritual Exercises (composed 1522-1524) are well known throughout the Church.

We followed the prayers, meditations, and mental exercises of the Exercises. Though meant for approximately 1 month, the priest in charge of the retreat condensed them into 2 weeks.

Where's the adventure, you might ask?

The priest suggested that we seminarians might try a silent retreat.

And I took him up on the offer.

For 2 weeks, I spoke only at mass and with my spiritual advisor. I slept some. I read a lot. I prayed even more. What was most interesting? I still communicated with everyone in the building. Not with my voice but with my hands. And my eyes. With my actions and facial expressions.

Those 2 weeks stick in my memory as the most profound in my life. And in some ways, the most adventurous. Because I journeyed not across a nation or even into the unknown but rather into the depths of myself.