Shift the Balance

Have you heard of Carrie Newcomer? She is both a gifted musician and a poet, writing songs whose lyrics paint vivid pictures and quietly sing of hope. One of the songs that often lifts my spirits is Lean In Toward the Light. Part of the refrain says:

The shadows of the world will say,

 There’s no hope—why try anyway?

 But every kindness, large or slight,

 Shifts the balance toward the light.

I find myself wondering if “shifting the balance” is exactly what we are called to do in these chaotic times. In Luke 16:10, Jesus reminds us that “Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much.” Throughout the Gospels, he teaches that God works through small things—a pinch of yeast hidden in dough, a tiny mustard seed planted in the earth. What begins almost unnoticed can grow into something transformative. Those small acts, those faithful choices, shift the balance.

If you are anything like me, you long for a spiritual life that is rich and fulfilling right now. You long for wisdom to navigate difficult situations right now. You long for the energy, courage, and clarity to help make the world a more just and compassionate place right now.

But what if, instead of focusing on all that we cannot accomplish immediately, we simply focused on shifting the balance?

What if, rather than expecting instant spiritual depth, we took one small step toward a deeper relationship with God? What if, instead of lamenting our lack of wisdom, we sought one opportunity to learn, listen, or pray? What if, rather than despairing over all that is broken in the world, we chose one simple act of kindness, generosity, or justice that could help “shift the balance toward the light”?

As we move through the summer, consider these questions: What is one small action you could take to shift the balance toward greater faith in your own life? What is one simple act of goodness or kindness you could offer? What is one way you could support and encourage others as we all seek to lean toward the light?

After all, as Carrie Newcomer reminds us, “every kindness, large or slight, shifts the balance toward the light.” And perhaps a visit to Well of Mercy could be a good place to begin.

Lea Slaton

Executive Director



~ Room Availability ~

Occasionally, vacancies become available due to unexpected cancellations. If you would like to be notified when additional rooms open, we invite you to sign up for our notification list. Whenever a room becomes available, we’ll send an email to let you know.

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~ July ~

~ August ~

~ September ~

~ Sold Out Retreat? Wait List Available ~

Come to the Quiet

A Guided Silent Retreat with Spiritual Direction

July 30 - August 1, 2026

WAITLIST

Well of Mercy relies on your donations to maintain our Quiet Place. Thank you in advance for being part of this healing ministry.

What Should I Give?

New suggested donation amounts

As you know, Well of Mercy is a nonprofit ministry that relies on the generosity of our guests and supporters. We do not charge a fixed fee for overnight stays because we never want finances to be a barrier to someone seeking rest, renewal, and retreat. Instead, we offer a suggested donation and invite guests to give as they are able. Some give the suggested amount, some give less, and some are able to give more. We provide a suggested amount simply because many guests ask, “What should I give?”

With that in mind, beginning July 1, our suggested donation amounts will increase by $10. The suggested donation for rooms in the Guest House will be $120 per night, and the suggested donation for cottages will be $150 per night. Reservations made before July 1 will not be impacted, even if the retreat dates occur after July 1.

Like many organizations, Well of Mercy has experienced rising costs in recent years. What may surprise you is that the suggested donation covers only about one-third of the actual cost of an overnight stay. Those costs include housekeeping, utilities, insurance, accounting and administrative services, facility and land maintenance, equipment upkeep, emergency repairs, supplies, staff time, and much more. As I discovered within my first few months as Executive Director, there is far more involved in providing a peaceful retreat center than I ever imagined.

At the same time, your reflections and stories continually remind us that this ministry of quiet is deeply life-giving. We are grateful to be able to offer a place where people can rest, pray, reflect, and reconnect with God, themselves, and the natural world.

We wanted to share the reason for this change and to reiterate that these amounts remain suggested donations, not required fees. Our commitment remains the same: no one will be turned away because of an inability to give the suggested amount.

Thank you for being part of the Well of Mercy community. We look forward to welcoming you for your next retreat.

Well of Mercy's Core Values

Well of Mercy, a retreat ministry sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, grounded in the spirit of hospitality, provides quiet sanctuary and time in nature for reflection, rest and renewal for those choosing sacred time apart, enriching their spiritual and emotional wellbeing.