Silence among the heavens of Khandala.

July 03-04 [forewarning: this gets a bit personal… which is tough for me to share!]
Before I knew the specifics of my plans in India this summer, I was hoping to experience India in all its natural beauty; in its jungles, its rice fields, and its mountains. A side entirely different from the coarse, never sleeping, chaotic city of Mumbai. I wanted to experience the beauty of India in the ways I had imagined it; the India from Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle Book!

But Mumbai does not meet Kipling’s tropical jungles in any way! However, this weekend I saw a side of India I had been hoping to see from the start. One of the pastors, Raj, had informed us that he was taking us to Khandala for part of the weekend, but we had no idea what this entailed. We simply accepted the news of the trip and hoped for the best; we have definitely learned flexibility while here! Thus far, my eyes have not met a calm street, and each new place we venture into seems to get louder and dirtier. But on this journey I began to gain hopes that this town would hold something different, as the window view changed from slums and street-filled markets into pure green. I knew my desires to fall into picturesque India were about to be fulfilled as our two-hour train ride began to quickly change course; leaving the city and sloping upwards into the mountains.

What we got was far better than anything I could have imagined!

Khandala is buried in the mountains, and we stayed at a quaint Catholic villa. It was like our own private monastery, minus the monks. Aside from the small staff and another group of three, we were the only residents for the weekend.

The timing was absolutely perfect.
The view couldn’t have been better.
Spiritually, this retreat was exactly what I needed.

My pictures can’t do justice but here was our home for those twenty-four hours. Home? Yes. This captivating villa felt more like home to me than any other place in India thus far.

a glimpse of what the buildings look like that make up St. Mary's Villa

the beautiful gardens, it was so great to see grass!

there were wild monkeys living in the mountains

the valley that ran through

simplicity of life

the mountains of Khandala

God works in incredible ways. This trip as a whole has been exactly what I needed in my life, for many ways and reasons that I was not fully aware of, or prepared to accept. But a lot of great changes have taken place in me personally here, despite the many obstacles that we have faced with our ministry. There was a lot of inner turmoil that needed to be worked out between myself and my heavenly Father. Interestingly enough, and possibly humorously, it took sending me half way across the country to get set straight, but that is exactly what it took. Long story short (and I wouldn’t mind at all sharing with you personally the things God has revealed to me and the changes he has brought in my heart, I just don’t feel the need to share them with the whole worldwide web!), the week leading up to this was a rollercoaster for me and I had finally landed in the Lord’s arms, right where I was suppose to be in every way. And right after this “breaking point” of mine? A perfect harbor of peace to heal in.

Khandala was exactly this for me. Never in my life have I experienced a more calming place, or a more peaceful state of being. The moment I stepped through the gates of this flourishing haven, the Lord completely cleared and quieted my mind. It was completely still! Absolute peace and tranquility enveloped me. I was surrounded by one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced, and I have never felt more in the presence of my Lord. If I could ever begin to imagine all that comes with the heavenly realm of our Lord, it would evoke all the emotions that were awoken in me here.

I could hardly believe the complete stillness of my mind; normally it never stops making leaps from one topic to another, never allowing rest. But here I was, simply content to be. There was no need for words. I was simply soaking up and basking in the beauty of God’s creation. There was no flooding of thoughts; just silence in me and around me. And so, that’s what I did. That’s what my team did. The next morning we dedicated about six hours to silence, something new for me. And it was so refreshing. I spent time reading, journaling, praying, and simply allowing myself to sit, to listen. And it’s not that I had some unbelievable revelation or experience, I was simply still and in the presence of my Lord. I spent several of my silent hours on a bench in one of the gardens, and it was just me and God; no words, no thoughts, just the two of us sharing a bench. It was just me, for once, shutting my mouth and my mind and acknowledging the presence of the Lord with me. Just devoting time to spend with Him and Him alone. Doing this made me really think, how often do I take the time and energy to do this? Not necessarily retreat into the mountains of India and take a mini vow of silence; but to be so conscious of my loving Father’s constant presence? My busy schedule just doesn’t “allow” it. Or better said, “consumed with my busy schedule I often forget that He is always right there with me, waiting for me to allot a piece of my mind and heart for Him to enter in, because I have so much else filling His space”. What absurdities can creep into life if one does not guard themselves! But you can assure yourself, from here on out I will guard myself. I will open up space, time, and focus for Him to fill me every minute of every day. For I have seen the palette of beauty that can overtake my heart and mind, and I do not want to forget it. I have taken a bit of Khandala with me, and I will not forget what that means; what potential lies within stillness.