In the middle of Door County lies a place called Chambers Island. It is both an island literally and figuratively- yes, this is possible. Not only is it located in Lake Michigan,making it a real island, but it is also an island in the sense that it is apart from everything else. It is a sanctuary in the middle of the hustle and bustle of tourist-trap Door County. It is a place to go for relaxation and spiritual enlightenment.
declared it, "beautiful and wonderful", and even referred to the experience as, "...coming home to be refreshed."
On Chambers Island there is a place called Holy Name Retreat House, where I spent my past weekend. It is a Catholic retreat house that holds three-day silent retreats focused on God and finding calm
within. You may think that a silent retreat sounds rather boring and lonely, but it is just the opposite. The silence is there so that you have a chance to listen to what God is telling you, and so that you can think more clearly.
The relaxing ways of Holy Name retreat House have made such an impression on people that they have called it a
"truly blessed and holy place"
declared it, "beautiful and wonderful", and even referred to the experience as, "...coming home to be refreshed."
Not only does the island provide you with an exceptional chance to relax, but it also has many trails for walking or biking and a lake you can swim in whenever you want. There is also an historic light
house about two miles from the retreat house that is periodically opened to the public, and an old foundation of a hotel that you can explore. Benches and swings are placed all over the grounds of the retreat house, providing you with a chance to sit and view
the various birds and animals that can be found on the island.
If you're looking for a place to "get away from it all", then the Holy Name Retreat House on Chambers Island is most definitely the place for you! If you would like to visit the Holy Name Retreat House, visit their website for more information.
Not surprisingly, the quiet atmosphere on the island provides endless inspiration for poetry. Here's a poem I wrote during a rain storm on the island:
Tree on a Stormy Day
Tree on a stormy day:
Leaves mix in more than breeze.
Branches sway and bob.
The twigs, the fingers, snap and crack.
The roots dig into the ground.
Moss clings to the edges of the trunk-
which is slippery and smooth.
Far above these mosses,
birds, squirrels, and other creatures
huddle and hunker down.
this is the tree,
as rain showers it,
wind gusts it,
and many, calling it home,
find its branches safe and sound.
Copyright MPK 2010, all rights reserved, unauthorized use is prohibited.
Thanks for listening!
Maggs
