Reflecting in the city

This past week I spent some time walking in the city in a type of urban retreat, trying to be open to whatever presented itself to me in the busyness of city life, reflecting on God’s presence in those experiences. I was with a group on this retreat. We spent some time reflecting on what we were attracted to photograph, later sharing some of our images and thoughts with each other.

We spoke of the beauty we found in the symmetry of architecture, noticed the presence of animal and plant life amidst heavy human traffic, became aware that all the anonymous people we passed by had their own story to tell, their own personal journeys to travel, and that the Spirit of the Lord was active in each one’s life.

We viewed the city on the observation deck of a high-rise office building and called to mind the meditation in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, where God looks down upon the busy earth, sees mankind doing all sorts of evil, and decides to come in person to show them the right way to live.

We spent some quiet time in a downtown chapel, centering ourselves before returning to the busy world outside the chapel doors, grateful for the time to rest, reflect, and connect with God’s Spirit.

“Third Prelude. This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely.” (Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, #104)