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I have gone on Catholic retreats, which are similar to what I think you're talking about, but not identical. The point of a retreat is to spend time with the p

I have gone on Catholic retreats, which are similar to what I think you're talking about, but not identical. The point of a retreat is to spend time with the person you should love most of all, getting to know them better. Every retreat I have been on has been worth it. Some have been easier to see the benefits at once, others have benefits planted that are reaped later.

cpr 7y ago
Same here, years ago--6 day silent retreats. My experience, though, is that it takes about 4-5 days for all the "noise" in your head to start fading away, and then, boom, it's over. ;-)
- asark 7y ago
  > My experience, though, is that it takes about 4-5 days for all the "noise" in your head to start fading away, and then, boom, it's over. ;-) I used to know someone from France who claimed that the French don't consider any amount of time off under a week to really be a vacation, for exactly that reason.
jrochkind1 7y ago
"The point of a retreat is to spend time with the person you should love most of all, getting to know them better." You're being too clever for me. Do you mean yourself? God? Your actual romantic partner?
- thedaemon 7y ago
  You should love yourself. That's what they meant.
- krageon 7y ago
  Retreat-shaped vacations are usually about isolation. To a true believer, you are always with god. Therefore the only logical conclusion is that it is about you.
  - FearNotDaniel 7y ago
    Nope. I've spent enough time among Catholics and other Christians to know that "the person you should love most of all" would be unequivocally understood as God. In their worldview, just because God is with you all the time doesn't mean you are actually free to give him all your attention and focus on that relationship.
    - krageon 7y ago
      For a certain brand of Christian, you are entirely correct. This argument is so compelling that I'm actually doubting my original interpretation of the text.
- svieira 7y ago
  As a Catholic, that person is God. To fill this idea out a little more - God is the source of all good and the ultimate goal of all creatures. The ultimate reason for happiness (which all seek) is the Person who creates all things. And He wants to spend time with us, but He also wants us to choose to spend time with Him. A retreat, like a pilgrimage, is time we choose to set aside to spend with Him.

cpr 7y ago

Same here, years ago--6 day silent retreats. My experience, though, is that it takes about 4-5 days for all the "noise" in your head to start fading away, and then, boom, it's over. ;-)

asark 7y ago
> My experience, though, is that it takes about 4-5 days for all the "noise" in your head to start fading away, and then, boom, it's over. ;-) I used to know someone from France who claimed that the French don't consider any amount of time off under a week to really be a vacation, for exactly that reason.

jrochkind1 7y ago

"The point of a retreat is to spend time with the person you should love most of all, getting to know them better." You're being too clever for me. Do you mean yourself? God? Your actual romantic partner?

thedaemon 7y ago
You should love yourself. That's what they meant.
krageon 7y ago
Retreat-shaped vacations are usually about isolation. To a true believer, you are always with god. Therefore the only logical conclusion is that it is about you.
- FearNotDaniel 7y ago
  Nope. I've spent enough time among Catholics and other Christians to know that "the person you should love most of all" would be unequivocally understood as God. In their worldview, just because God is with you all the time doesn't mean you are actually free to give him all your attention and focus on that relationship.
  - krageon 7y ago
    For a certain brand of Christian, you are entirely correct. This argument is so compelling that I'm actually doubting my original interpretation of the text.
svieira 7y ago
As a Catholic, that person is God. To fill this idea out a little more - God is the source of all good and the ultimate goal of all creatures. The ultimate reason for happiness (which all seek) is the Person who creates all things. And He wants to spend time with us, but He also wants us to choose to spend time with Him. A retreat, like a pilgrimage, is time we choose to set aside to spend with Him.