In a way, this word has two very discordant definitions. Retreat can sometimes be associated with giving up, running away, or backing down. But there is another kind of retreat, that of monastic roots that refreshes the soul and seeks solace in the Lord by detaching from the world. A retreat where you surround yourself with different things, holy things, to set your thoughts on what truly matters. Yet retreat always admits a need for support, community, or empowerment.
Retreat requires humility, but offers strength. It demands stillness, but inspires action. It exchanges ignorance for wisdom, fogginess for clarity, and chaos for serenity. I have a personal retreat day every month so I constantly return to the well for refreshing. But a few weeks ago I had the extreme honor and delight of participating in a church retreat with 60 of my friends here in Italy.
For starters, let’s all rejoice together that I was blessed with a weekend in Umbria, away from the city for the first time. I temporarily traded millions of neighbors for hilly terrain, picturesque trees, and the lovely Lake Trasimeno. As a country girl, this was a delightful setting for building relationships, studying scripture, and drawing near to God.
During breakout sessions, we discussed what prevents us from trusting God and named lies we’ve accepted. My friends poured truth into my problem of trying to do too much on my own. Independence is the pride and joy of the United States, and I’ve always shown my stripes through this characteristic. Literally to a fault. My sister in Christ encouraged me in a way that gave me life and liberation, rather than feelings of shame and condemnation.
I said it’s difficult to be away from all my loved ones because I feel like I can’t do anything to help them. That’s where she chimed in, “What would you be doing differently? God’s the one who heals and causes change. The best thing you can do is pray, and your prayers are just as effective from here. We need to trust that it’s God doing everything, not us.” And she’s right. Even when we are the instruments, there is a Master Musician creating harmony.
This has been repeated a lot in recent weeks. Reminders that part of my calling is to abide in the Lord have breathed peace into my passionate desire for a better world. I am so grateful for that weekend to focus on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (a practice recommended in Philippians 4:8). And of course I’m not the only one who was impacted by that time of learning. Praise God for all those who gathered for this fruitful time of growth and delight!