Retreats

Ahhh...retreats. Aren't they great? The one I just went to was at a small town on the Oregon Coast. Not a touristy place, nice and slow. I went with 10 others from my small church, and we rented a beautiful house up on the hill. We could see the coast for miles.

It was time that I needed away from the noise. So a small group with a light schedule was just what I needed. There were short teaching times, given by fellow church-goers, not clergy. I valued this since it was real and raw.

And the free time was freeing. Do what you want, no pressure to even do anything. I chose to go for a solo walk on the beach. I had a lot to talk to God about.

Foot washing. Always heard about it, never have done it. I was determined to drop my issues and wash the feet of those in the group that people probably felt the most uncomfortable with. One was a guy who is socially awkward, and actually has some disfigured feet. But in that moment that I washed his feet, I did feel so much better. It wasn't about me, and it felt good. I was expected to feel uncomfortable, and so I was right in my element. The rest of the release I just can't explain...I am not a poet. But God did something in me, and I didn't feel so alone anymore.

So the retreat had some unexpected benefits. I have let some of my crap go. Just got to keep letting it go.