Retreat!

I've spent the past 4 days as a speaker at the Kawkawa Camp Family Camp. As you can see from the picture, it's been really tough. I've been here for several years and am always thankful for experience that takes place over the August long week-end. It's a reminder that we need to take time away for the "day to day-ness" of life, upset the routine, and make space for new thoughts and ideas. The added space that comes into families (and between families) during this camp enables things to happen that there is just no room for in our normal schedule.

What I find true of this week-end is also true of our spiritual lives. We need to retreat. Jesus went up to a mountain to pray, and if He needed time away to commune with the Father I think that we probably do too. I realize that not everyone can come to a "Family Camp" or even take a personal retreat for a variety of reasons. But we all need to find little ways to retreat from life and reflect on it before we return. It can be a morning period of silence, prayer, and reflection. It can be getting away for an afternoon to a place where you phone has no service and all you have is your thoughts and maybe a journal to write them in. Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." While that's a bit of an overstatement, the point is that the speed of life today makes it way too common to coast on auto-pilot and miss the voice of God calling to us in a million different ways as we blow through our day. Where will you retreat today? 

(If you want a more formal opportunity to do this check out our Spiritual Formation Retreats. There are only 4 spots left in the first retreat, and we'd love you have you come along for the journey.)