Finding Our Rhythm
I’m writing some thoughts from my family farm—the farm I grew up on in Northern Indiana, where my dad also grew up. As far as the eye can see, the land is blanketed in green. The corn is eight feet tall in some areas. The ears of corn and pods on the soybeans are thriving with the sunny days and high humidity. Harvest time will be here before we know it. I’m always reminded of how my life on the farm was lived in a rhythm of planting, harvesting, and fallow seasons. I love that. It’s as though the land itself taught me to stay in the rhythm of life.
You don’t have to be on a farm—or even understand much about farming—to recognize that we, too, need rhythms in our lives. Spiritually, we can practice rhythms that help us remain attentive to God and to ourselves. For some, it might be prayer in the morning, midday, and evening. For others, perhaps winter becomes a time for a silent retreat before the awakening of spring. Maybe it is a weekly Sabbath, a regular walk in nature, time spent journaling, or simply creating moments of quiet throughout the day. Whatever it is for you, I invite you to think about the rhythms of your life as we begin to enter into fall.
If you’ve never thought about this before, perhaps take a moment to simply sit with the Spirit in a few silent moments of solitude. That, in itself, could become a practice. A rhythm.
This summer, we’ve been doing a lot around the property at Farmstead to provide spaces and places for you to contemplate and retreat. At the Hive, we’ve added two new bathrooms for our larger groups. We’ve also extended Caroline’s garden, which is the beginning of a vision to create a serenity garden out by the barn. And we planted a Ginkgo tree in the middle of the small side pasture. It’s a beautiful tree. If you’re not familiar with the Ginkgo, you should Google it. Its leaves are so unique, and in the fall the color is absolutely gorgeous—a brilliant, bright gold!
You might just need to plan a fall outing to Farmstead to see it! 😃
August was a busy month for me as I prepared for a silent art retreat at Ignatius House. Now I’m getting ready to head across the pond to Ireland to teach on art and spirituality at a contemplative Christian retreat. I’m really excited about this trip and this invitation. It has been inspired by a desire to keep the Celtic contemplative Christian heritage alive—a tradition that reminds us of the sacredness of creation, the presence of God, and the invitation to live attentively.
As fall approaches, I hope you’ll take some time to notice the rhythms of your own life.
Where is there a rhythm that is nourishing you?
Where might you need more space?
And where might the Spirit be inviting you to slow down, listen, and simply be?
I hope you can join us in October for the Abide retreat.
Until then, may you find your own rhythm of rest, renewal, and connection.
With peace,
Patti Hunter
AROUND THE FARMSTEAD
New Spaces. New Possibilities.
Summer has been a season of tending and growing at Farmstead.
Not only in the gardens and fields, but in the spaces we are creating for people to gather, rest, and retreat.
At the Hive, we’ve added two new bathrooms, making the space more comfortable for larger groups and retreats.
Caroline’s garden has also grown, and we’re beginning to imagine what could become a serenity garden near the barn—a place where guests can wander, sit, reflect, and simply be.
And then there is the Ginkgo.
Planted in the small side pasture, this beautiful tree is quietly establishing itself at the center of the landscape.
The Ginkgo is known for its distinctive fan-shaped leaves and its spectacular golden color in the fall.
So we’re already looking forward to watching it change.
Perhaps you’ll come see it with us.
Sometimes the best way to experience a new season is simply to step outside and notice.
SOUL CARE PRACTICE
Notice Your Rhythms
As we move toward fall, take some time this month to notice the rhythms that shape your life.
Not the rhythms you wish you had.
The rhythms you actually live.
Where do you naturally find moments of rest?
When do you feel most connected to God?
What practices help you return to yourself?
And where does your life feel hurried, crowded, or out of balance?
Set aside 5–10 minutes this week to sit quietly.
Take a few slow breaths.
You might begin with this simple prayer:
“Spirit of God, help me notice the rhythm You are inviting me into.”
Then listen.
You don’t need to solve anything.
Simply notice.
Afterward, consider these questions:
What rhythm in my life is currently nourishing my soul?
What rhythm may need to change?
Where might I create more space for silence, rest, or prayer?
What is one small practice I could begin—or return to—this fall?
Remember: a spiritual rhythm doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes it begins with five quiet minutes.
And sometimes five quiet minutes become a way of life.
A FALL INVITATION
ABIDE RETREAT: Divine Intimacy in the Ordinary & Everyday
October 23–24, 2026
What if experiencing God’s presence didn’t require us to escape our ordinary lives?
What if God is already present—in the morning coffee, the workday, the conversation with a friend, the walk outside, the difficult moment, and the quiet before sleep?
Our October retreat, Abide: Divine Intimacy in the Ordinary & Everyday, invites us to explore what it means to cultivate an awareness of God’s presence in the midst of everyday life.
Led by Jake Ostrowski, the retreat will draw from the Gospel of John and the wisdom of Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God.
Together, we’ll explore the practice of abiding—remaining, dwelling, and becoming attentive to the presence of God wherever we are.
Through teaching, reflection, conversation, prayer, and contemplative practice, this retreat offers space to slow down and consider a question that is both simple and profound:
What might it look like to live each ordinary day with a deeper awareness of God?
Perhaps this is the rhythm your soul has been seeking.
October 23–24 at Farmstead on the River
LOOKING AHEAD
OCTOBER 23–24
Abide: Divine Intimacy in the Ordinary & Everyday
A contemplative retreat with Jake Ostrowski exploring God’s presence in the ordinary and everyday.
NOVEMBER 14
Women’s Fall Retreat
Hosted by Northview Church at Farmstead on the River.
NOVEMBER 21
Art & Soul Winter Workshop
A day of silence, Scripture, nature, and creative expression—creating a soul-space for authentic connection with God.
DECEMBER
A Farmstead Christmas Gathering
More details coming soon.
Visit the Farmstead website for details and registration for upcoming events.
A CLOSING BLESSING
As one season gives way to another,
may you notice the rhythms of your own life.
May you know when it is time to plant,
when it is time to harvest,
and when it is time to let the field lie fallow.
May you give yourself permission to rest without guilt,
to be still without needing an agenda,
and to listen without needing an immediate answer.
And may you discover that God is present
in every season—
in the growing,
in the waiting,
in the changing,
and in the becoming.
May you find your rhythm.
May you find your rest.
May you find your way back to what matters.
And may there always be a place for you at Farmstead on the River.
With peace,
Patti Hunter & the Farmstead Staff