First Baptist Church of Herndon

Retreat!

Linda Soller | May 26, 2014

What do you think of when you hear the word “retreat”? I first think of battle scenes from movies or books where one side is losing the battle and they retreat as a means to escape and regroup. My second thought goes to a quiet or safe place, as in going to my weekend retreat. By the way, I don’t have a weekend retreat, which may be why I think first of battle scenes. Our lives can be so busy and crazy that we feel like we’re in battle. How many times do you think, “If only I could hide, or escape, or go back to where I felt safe?”

Weekend before last, a small group of ladies from FBC Herndon went on a retreat to Winchester, VA. What a beautiful drive as you head west toward the hills and valley. It was particularly fun for me because we went to a tea room on Saturday and I’m a sucker for a nice tea room. I bring all this up to make the point that a retreat doesn’t have to be far away or exotic to offer a calm peaceful environment. We only traveled about an hour to reach our destination, maybe a bit more. The location itself wasn’t really the retreat. The retreat was the ability to seclude ourselves where we could focus on our faith and getting to know each other better. To put it in battle terms we were retreating to escape our busy lives and regroup so we could go back out refreshed and strengthened.

If you picture the battle retreat it often appears a bit chaotic. Some people have that deer in the headlights expression, while others step up and take charge. When retreating you may not be like you are in daily battle; you get a chance to be different. Do you have a job that requires you to carry an air of authority? Well on retreat, you can let someone else be in command. Are you a shy person in a big group? On retreat you may find your voice in your smaller working group. Do you think you know people pretty well? Wait until they share a fun fact that is really not what you expected. Do you think your group lacks drive and energy? Just get into a retreat discussion and rediscover your passion for your faith.

We all need to step up to our daily battles to survive, but there is no shame in a good retreat. The Bible tells of Jesus needing time away, seclusion, a retreat to pray and be with God. He also didn’t feel the need to be surrounded by other people. Maybe your retreat is that old soft chair in the corner where you can read, or that path around your neighborhood where you can appreciate nature, or maybe your retreat is in your car where you listen to and talk with God in between your job and fixing dinner for the family. I knew someone who loved to mow the grass, and I think he found it to be a time to ponder.  In the heat of battle it can be calming to think of your retreat. It’s comforting to know that the battle will not always be raging and you have somewhere to go. My battle cry is, “Push forward into the fray, but don’t forget to RETREAT!”

Happy Memorial Day - Have a great week!  :o)    Linda