Our annual men's retreat was this past weekend, and it was so good to be around my brothers again. We had a cabin in the Cook Forest of Pennsylvania, right on the Clarion River. The cabin was equipped with kayaks, close to a beautiful hiking trail, and had no cell phone service. Minus being able to see the another house and people occasionally driving on the road out front, or drifting by on the river, it was perfect.
I've begun to notice two things about these retreats. First the theme and timing perfectly coincide with what we (for sure I) need based on the previous year, and two, the topic that we have discussed is an introduction to what God is wants to do in our (again, for sure my) lives in the upcoming year.
When we started these retreats in 2015, I was challenged to make them more than just a guys camping trip, but to have some substance with them. Due to the short time frame that was there to plan and organize everything I went with something I was both familiar with, and something that was relevant to the main idea behind this gathering of men. We've been working our way through the stages of masculine initiation outlined in John Eldredge's book, The Way of the Wild Heart. Initially I was very heavy on Eldredge, but over time I'm started to take more ownership, basing the conversation around the concepts he shares, and drawing only a few illustrations and questions.
This year we focused on stage 4, the Lover, Matthew 4.11 was the central verse of this years retreat.. This stage addresses two key things, first, life is about more than battle, and two, God desires intimacy with us, and is constantly pursuing us. The theme fit so well. Each of us has been through a lot in the previous year, fighting some big battles, facing some difficult times, and each one of needed a time to simply be in a secluded place to be nurtured, healed and restored. We had no formal activity planned, no rigid schedule to follow, I spent a lot of time in my hammock, and in good conversation. It was good, it was healthy, it was needed, and it was worship God was pleased with.
This year's retreat was significant for me because we had a ceremony that Aaron and I participated in. For the past few years the idea of identity in Christ, of a God given true name, has been central in my mind. I've been pursuing this, and encouraging each of my brothers to do the same. This year Aaron and I received our identities from God, and before our brothers we shared them, heard words of affirmation and validation, and then took pledges, received a symbol of our identity, and a gift to mark this moment. This ceremony was one of the most significant moments of my life. I am still working to process this, but I plan on sharing more about this in the near future.
As we gathered in the kitchen of the cabin to close out our weekend, I got the feeling that something really good is about to happen with our group. We prayed for our fellowship, our families, and those who would become part of our families. We prayed for more intentionality to do life together more consistently, for growth into our identities, and for mentors to guide us into the next stages.
I love this time with my brothers, and I look forward to it each year. This year, the location, conversations, and ceremony we all sent by God, and I am so grateful for how He has provided. I look forward with eager anticipation to what God has in store with this next year, and look forward with great expectations to Retreat 2019.
TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
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