Annual WCCM Colombia Retreat: “Love in Motion: A Journey Within”
Amid the hustle and bustle of daily life, we are presented with a provocative invitation: to stop. To stop and move, but not outwardly, rather inwardly. Paradoxically, on the spiritual path, to move forward is to stop, and only in silence and stillness can we become aware of this inner movement.
This year, under the theme “Love in Motion,” we had the opportunity to experience our annual community retreat at the Benedictine Monastery of El Rosal, a peaceful place near Bogotá, offering the perfect space to withdraw. Over three days, we witnessed how love is not only felt in the heart but also unfolds in every action and every compassionate gesture.
Through the practice of contemplative silence, the cornerstone of Christian meditation, we discovered that peace is not a distant state, something only attainable in some illusory future, but rather a gift accessible in the here and now, a gift of the Spirit offered within each person.
The retreat allowed us to disconnect from external noise to reconnect with the essence of divine love that dwells in us, in others, and in the world around us. This space of stillness served as a constant reminder that peace, like love, is not something we must seek outside ourselves, but something we can cultivate within.
The retreat not only offered moments of introspection but also of community. The connection that emerged between the participants was one of the greatest treasures of this encounter. Seekers from the Caribbean coast and the Andean region gathered in the same space, united by the desire to deepen the practice of meditation and share with other meditators.
This year, the talks were led by Patricio Lynch and Stefano Cartabia, who guided us with their wisdom and reflections, inviting us to expand our understanding of love as an active and transformative energy. Through their words, we were challenged to abandon dualistic views of reality and embrace a unified and integrative vision, where love appears not only as a feeling but as a powerful force driving us toward unity and the common good.
Each day was filled with moments of deep connection. But undoubtedly, one of the most special was the shared meditation practice, allowing us to experience, in the same silence, the union of our intentions and the power of unity. In every breath and in the silence, union became present, reminding us that we are not separate, but deeply connected by the divine energy we all share.
The retreat also included yoga sessions, complementing the meditation practice and helping us connect more with our bodies and the earth. After one of the yoga sessions, our feet were red—not from physical effort, but from something deeper.
We were joyful to have the presence of the national coordination of the community in Colombia. We deeply thank the volunteers who, with their dedication and closeness, made this retreat possible. Thanks also to those who traveled from different corners of the country to participate, and who, with their presence, made this space full of peace, love, and community.
The theme “Love in Motion” taught us that love is a living energy, a force that not only transforms us internally but drives us to move toward others, to share our light, and to live with greater authenticity and compassion.
We say goodbye, but with the certainty that love continues to move within us, always in action, always transforming us. These gatherings strengthen our community and confirm what John Main said: “Meditation creates community.”
Meyer Polo
