What I See with Peter Fiorenza: A retreat can mean different things to people, but can be food for the soul

A person recently reminded me why we were given two ears and only one mouth. And that was because it is more important to listen than to speak. It is only when we listen, that we are able to hear something that is new, and sometimes this can rejuvenate our bodies. In our modern world, I reckon, too many of us are continually falling victim to a case of the “tail wagging the dog”. Our jobs, family and other commitments are dominating our lives to such an extent that we don’t give any time to ourselves. A few days ago, I took part in a work retreat. What’s a retreat? Well, I suppose, it is something different for different people. According to the Catholic Church, a retreat refreshes and revitalises and gives the opportunity for more time spent in prayer and contemplation. It has also often been associated with clergy, but in recent times, you could say it has become more of a secular activity — an opportunity to get more in tune with ourselves. Held in the beautiful Chapman Valley, the retreat saw more than 100 staff converge at Nukara Farm, near the historic hamlet of Nanson. Now, I’m not going to get into specific activities, suffice to say, that everything was conducive to making you feel relaxed and kind to the mind. There is a lot to be said for mingling with your workmates in a completely different setting and sharing time that allows you and them to throw off that professional mask. There was no hierarchy, no departments, just plenty of smiles and laughs, and religious or not, this was a gathering that promoted food for the soul. From my limited experience, retreats are different for everyone. This one, like others, had a religious theme, but how I responded was, and is always, the key. I believe religion is simply a tool for finding out who we are, and the continual search for inner peace. What’s inner peace? I don’t really know, but I will say that taking time out to laugh, smile and just shoot the breeze with others sounds good to me. Peter Fiorenza hosts Fiorenza on Sunday between 10am and noon on Radio MAMA