Lord, I need to meet you there (“River”by Brian Doerksen)

In these trying times where there is so much going on and so much despair, caused by all that we are going through as the world, country, community, family and individuals.  We go through so much on a daily basis such that we feel suffocated and in dire need of ways to break free.

In my short time of being a Spiritual Director and a giver of the Spiritual Exercises, I have had the privilege of meeting people of all ages and from all walks of life. These were people who were in search of their purpose in life, of their identity, of God and of so much more. This reminded me of how I was in the same place a couple of years ago before I made the Spiritual Exercises and before I received training as a spiritual director from the Jesuit Institute South Africa. In the course of these two journeys of discovery I found my own sense of purpose, to help others in their search, in life.

I work now at the Retreat Centre in St Lucia Estuary (in KZN north of Durban) situated in the pristine Isimangaliso Wetland Park, which has been declared as South Africa’s first World Heritage Site by a UNESCO protocol in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values. It has an unparalleled natural environment, which abounds with fauna, flora and aquatic life. It lends itself to communion with God and nature in the spirit of the Encyclical “Laudato Si”.
It has five ecosystems with the second highest vegetative dune in the world! It has lovely forest walks with beautiful birds and antelopes. The walks along the beach are awesome, and there is swimming for those who enjoy it. Due to the natural beauty of the marine life one can go snorkelling or deep sea diving and have a deeper encounter with the mystery of the ocean. The town itself is quiet, which provides a perfect environment for the Retreat Centre to host different groups; those who wish to come for a guided silent retreat or a preached retreat as well as those who are looking for a restoring and peaceful environment. The Retreat Centre is a unique and ideal setting for retreats, workshops, quiet time to rest in an unparalleled natural environment which lends itself to a communion with God and nature. This place is so full of possibilities to have fun and to “Find God in all things” as St Ignatius puts it.

Over this past year I have listened to the struggles and burdens that people are carrying. This is mainly due to the pandemic, the exhaustion and stress of living in an abnormal way for so long. There are also fears people have about faith, particularly, of going back to church, and yet they are also spiritually starved and in desperate need for spiritual food that will uplift their spirits.

 It is amazing what time away in beautiful, quiet surroundings, does for people. It is an opportunity to deeply reflect on one’s life experiences. Here in the silence, one may find one’s identity, joy and inner peace. What I have realised from working in the St Lucia Retreat Centre is that the natural environment contributes a great deal in helping people have profound experiences and encounters with God.  It is in the silence of the surroundings that the mind also stills. Then one is able to have meaningful and profound conversations with God or even with oneself. It is in these moments spent in silence that we again we come to understand what and who we believe in as well as discover our true selves, so the silence of our minds and hearts becomes ‘our river’ as Brian puts it ‘the place where we meet our Lord’.

This river where we are to meet our Lord is the most crucial place for us all especially in these times of uncertainty. Lord we need to meet you there, for the sake of our sanity and for the sake of regaining a bit of hope in our times of despair. 

Nontobeko Mhlongo                                                                               St Lucia 1^st September 2021