By Petula Brown
Over the years, I-94 has been my go-to route to destinations throughout southern Michigan, but this trip I got off the fast-track west of Jackson to see what I’ve been missing. On M-60 I passed through the campus of Spring Arbor University, and glimpsed local museums and farms. Bedroom communities like Concord, Tekonsha, and Union City offered local eateries and attractions missing from interstate rest stops. Accustomed to the relaxed vibe of those villages, the industrial scene of Three Rivers was an unexpected shift—a change experienced by travelers willing to take the less conventional path to Three Rivers’ GilChrist Retreat Center.
My sense of relaxation was restored as I surveyed GilChrist’s landscape. My eye was drawn to a man walking through high grasses. Gazing longer, I realized he was traversing a large prayer labyrinth. Having previously seen only ornately manicured options, the labyrinth’s 1.5-mile path blended naturally with the property, a reflection of GilChrist’s approach of embracing the surroundings. Two stocked ponds were added to the property in 2017 and seem ideal for swimming or perch fishing, but their role is to support ecosystem development. The ponds provide a focal point for land-based outdoor meditative practices and nature walks for guests.
GilChrist’s deference to nature was also evident in its approach to accommodations. Touring the property via golf cart, I noticed mature woods surrounded each cabin—which were widely dispersed—an ideal option for guests seeking a secluded setting. Without wifi, phones, or televisions, the modest cabins reinforce a low-tech respite with a focus on not only nature, but spirituality. Each cabin has a distinct theme with spiritual undertones such as Hinduism, Judaism, and naturalism. The cabins’ intersection of nature and spirituality provide visitors a unique space for relaxation or reflection.
I appreciated the aura of peace that resonated from the grounds and cabins, but felt a special connection with WindHill, the main house situated between the labyrinth and cabin areas. While exploring publications focused on well-being at the library, I reflected on my visits to the Crazy Wisdom Bookstore. Surveying WindHill’s meditation loft, I was reminded of my introspective experiences enjoying refreshments in the Crazy Wisdom Tea Room. As a primary location for meetings, WindHill serves as a gathering space encouraging knowledge, sharing, and support akin to the Crazy Wisdom Community Room.
WindHill amenities, including Wi-Fi service and additional lodging options, means the house is a focal point for many GilChrist activities, while the retreat center’s 67 acres provides numerous outlets to support well-being. Visitors can traverse the woods and meadows on foot, yet golf carts are available for mobility support if needed. On the eastern end of GilChrist, guests can explore The Stone Chapel, a volunteer-constructed building particularly suited for solo or small group meditative activities. Although meals are not provided at GilChrist, guests are welcomed to peruse the vegetable garden on the western end of the property for items to use to prepare dishes. Alternatively, visitors can engage local catering and restaurant establishments for meal arrangements. The variety of accommodations and amenities available at GilChrist means the retreat center can accommodate a variety of guests including solo travelers, couples, families, groups, and service animals.
The intrigue of GilChrist extends beyond the physical property. As part of the Fetzer Institute, the retreat center supports a philanthropic organization with a mission to “build the spiritual foundation for a loving world.” GilChrist’s facilitated activities reinforces Fetzer’s efforts to support people “seeking to deepen their experience of the sacred in everyday life.” As one of several retreat locations within Three Rivers, GilChrist resides within a “thin space”—a Celtic Christian concept of a location where heaven and Earth are especially close. Described by Kevin Koch, author of The Thin Places: A Celtic Landscape from Ireland to the Driftless, they are “locales where the veil between this world and the otherworld is porous, where there is mystery in the landscape. The earth takes on the hue of the sacred among peoples whose connection to place has remained unbroken through the ages.” Three Rivers’ character as a thin place was explored in the 2016 PBS program Three Rivers Spirituality (pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2016/11/11/three-rivers/33301/). GilChrist, along with St. Gregory’s Abbey, Hermitage Community, and Apple Farm Community, provides a nexus of resources for persons to explore their spirituality, engage with nature and/or, renew one’s body.
Though not familiar with the concept of thin spaces prior to visiting GilChrist, I must concede that a sense of peace and self-awareness seemed to envelope me as I explored the grounds. The retreat center was large enough for me to have my own space, but also had a sense of intimacy to foster a feeling of oneness with nature. Modest and comfortable, GilChrist provides a welcomed escape from the external noise—allowing one to focus on the internal.
Learn more about GilChrist and its fall events at fetzer.org.
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Solitary retreats are a familiar experience for me. I’ve been taking off into the woods to retreat all of my adult life. After I had cancer ten years ago, I scheduled these retreats as many as six times per year to support my healing process. Retreating alone has been an important piece of my self-care and a way to deepen into my meditation practice.