On June 25, 2022, on a calm, peaceful Saturday morning on the shores of Trout Lake at the Marywood Spirituality Center, six ministers gathered for a unique kayaking retreat. The group listened to an opening talk on Change: Our Ever-Present Companion, paddled, pondered and journaled in silence for two hours on the water, and shared thoughts and insights that surfaced from their quiet time.
The retreat was facilitated by author and avid kayaker, Mary Anne Smrz and her fellow paddlers. The team, formerly known as the Red Kayak Institute, has been hosting retreats for those seeking healing since 2012. Groups have included cancer survivors and their caregivers, women in 12-step recovery programs, people in grief and others in need of a pause to process the changes and transitions in their lives.
“Words cannot begin to express my gratitude to you for arranging this kayaking outing…it was truly an amazing experience…,” said one retreater. “It was calming, which I really needed,” commented another. Testimonials of lives changed, insights gained and the healing that takes place shows time on the water makes a difference, one drop at a time.