Two years back, Gina and I marked 30 years of marriage with a trip to Iona, Scotland. This was the grand finale of a 2 1/2-year journey in spiritual formation through Fuller Theological Seminary. I wanted to celebrate this milestone with the love of my life, honoring three decades of marital happiness.
The reason I’m sharing this blog now is that I’m heading back to a retreat center where I’ve been taking personal retreats since then. It’s a peaceful spot, tucked away in the northern California mountains, and it’s called Iona House (no relation to Iona, Scotland).
I’m writing about retreats because it’s crucial to take a step back and slow down!
As followers of Jesus, we navigate numerous paradoxes. A paradox is something that seems contradictory at first glance, but actually has a deeper, synergistic connection. Here’s one that resonates with me from the Apostle Paul:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
(II Corinthians 12:9)
I can’t claim to fully grasp this paradox. But it’s one of those concepts that retreats help us, as Jesus followers, to reflect on, allowing us to return to the world with a renewed perspective.
I highly recommend a book entitled: “Invitation to Retreat: The Gift and Necessity of Time Away with God” by Ruth Haley Barton as a fantastic resource for practicing retreat. The “Practicing Retreat” section at the end of each chapter is pure gold, offering practical tips for planning and engaging in retreat. Two questions I’d like to assist you with, inspired by Barton’s book, are:
How do you prepare for a retreat?
- Plan a time and a place.
This might seem simple, but it can actually be quite tough. I remember when I first relocated to So Cal from Phoenix, AZ, how hard it was to find a rhythm for retreat. Finding a suitable location was even trickier. I tried out several spots, but nothing felt quite right. Some places were overly religious, while others gave off a creepy vibe. But in the end, you really need to find a spot that feels right for you.
- Do less with more and more with less!
I’m a fan of this super simple acrostic: ESP – Eat, Sleep, Pray.
Be careful not to turn this into a ‘writing’ retreat, meaning – try to get as much work done as you can during your ‘free time.’
- Go digital-free:
Once you get to your destination, switch off and stash away all your digital devices. I’ve found this to be a major temptation. It might start with a text, which can quickly turn into an email. Before you know it, you’re chatting with loved ones when you didn’t plan to. The goal is to get more comfortable with silence.
*For more tips on Planning Your Retreat, check out Appendix 2 in Barton’s book.
How to Practice Retreat
- Think about a daily rhythm.
One thing Iona House offers is the chance to join the community for fixed prayer times in the morning, at noon, and in the evening. This is a fantastic way to structure your day. But it’s also useful to consider your own rhythms. Here’s a glimpse of my usual day on retreat:
- Personal Bible reading
- Morning Prayer in community
- Hike and meditate (sometimes while walking the labyrinth)
- Noon Prayer in community
- Nap
- Evening Prayer in community
- Devotional reading
- Bed
- Don’t push it.
The truth is, you might feel the urge to accomplish too much at the start as you settle into a regular retreat rhythm. Go in with a question and let that question guide you throughout your retreat. In other words, don’t try to fix all your life and ministry issues while on retreat.
- Be gentle with yourself.
This might come off as a bit ‘warm & fuzzy,’ but I read a book a while back that describes Jesus as gentle and lowly, which challenges the usual evangelical portrayal of Him (Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers by Dane Ortlund). The takeaway is, don’t be harsh, mean, or critical when your self-expectations don’t align with reality. Just be human.
*If you need more info on Fixed-Hour Prayer, check out Appendix 1 in Barton’s book.
What’s your retreat plan?
Take some time this week to map out your retreat schedule for next year. From my experience, if I put these dates on the calendar now and book my spots ahead of time, I’m much more likely to follow through! Otherwise, it’s all too easy for the less critical aspects of life and ministry to distract me from what really matters, even if it’s not urgent.
Photo by Zachary Kyra-Derksen on Unsplash
