Retreat Time!

Yesterday I attended a Woman's Retreat sponsored by the Womans Club from my church. It took place at the awesome Catholic retreat center outside of Inwood, West Virginia known as Priestfield. We listened to one of our local priests, by the name of Father Larry Geesey speak about his book on cults and how they are very dangerous. It was a wonderful and spiritually fulfilling day! When we were discussing Wicca and the New Age movement I actually had the courage to blurt out that I had been a practicing Wiccan for six years.
Everyone, and I mean all 63 ladies turned in their seats to stare at me it complete shock asking, "You did?" And all through the day ladies cam up and asked me about what i used to believe and how I was able to come back Home to the Church. Even Father Larry seemed a little intrigued. I did not think it was that big of a deal and I was kinda suprised at the reaction I got.

New Age and Wiccan principles are becoming deeper ingrained in society, and I think that some of these ladies were oblivious to that fact. We are located not too far from a college town (a college where I work, in fact) where drum circles and new age stores are as common as Starbucks in New York City. The whole 'just do whatever makes you happy' philosophy runs rampant in towns like these and it used to be a philosophy I believed in whole heartedly. Instant gratification and cafeteria religion is becoming more and more common as we are being taught that everyone has different beliefs and morals and that's OK. Just like the whole concept that 'Abortion is not right for me, but it could be right for you and we shouldn't judge eachother' is becoming more accepted. Well, I hate to break it to you, but abortion is wrong, period!Just like murder is wrong and rape is wrong and stealing is wrong!

Yes, Jesus told us not to judge other, for we too will be judged. Those without sin cast the first stone, and I do feel that is important advice. However, Jesus told the money changers in the Temple that what they were doing was wrong and He cast them out. If I had a girlfriend who told me she was pregnant and was going to have an abortion, I would tell her that abortion is wrong. However, I am not going to tie her down in a chair to prevent her from doing it. We all have free will and we must live with the consequences of our actions. I would let her now that I would pray for her and would be there to help her pick up the pieces.

This 'just let anybody do what they want' attitude is a result of the New Age movement. Morals are getting fuzzier and fuzzier. There is more gray than black or white.

My Deacon's wife, a very prominant figure at my church, came up and told me I was very brave for coming out of the proverbial broom closet. It was an act that is very unusual for me because I am a very introverted person and I don't really like bringing attention to myself. I don't know why I revealed that to some of the most talkative women in the church. I know God works in mysterious ways and maybe someone will ask me for help in that particular area one day. Even though I caused a stir in that room yesterday, all of those ladies seemed happy that I had made my way Home.