Lenten Retreat with the Rev. Martin Smith

Playfulness and the Divine Life

In our meditative retreat we will take soundings in a rich but neglected theme in spirituality: playfulness. This is a virtue –once called eutrapelia—which was highly valued in the past, and which we need to update and cultivate in order to withstand grimness in these stressful times. Also, mystics, poets and thinkers of all the great spiritual traditions frequently use metaphors of game and play to throw light on the versatility of God’s dealings with us, pointing out, as Monica Furlong does, “in his care of souls the Lord might use placebos, jokes, shocks, deceptions and all kinds of surprising methods of outwitting men’s wonderfully defended egocentricity.” In this time of silence, prayer and reflection we will get some practice in the great game of grace, in which our only hope of winning is to lose against the Supreme Player.

To register, please contact our Guesthouse Office by phone at 845-384-6660, ext. 3002 or email guesthouse@hcmnet.org.