Retreating to Advance - 24 November 2006

Taking stock is one way of describing a sabbatical and as part of that process I went on two retreats. 

Jackie and I went on a weekend retreat that has minimal input but then plenty of space to examine ourselves, in particular our fears.

I then went on a week's retreat to Holy Island considering the rhythms of life, in particular looking at what can be learnt from the early Celtic Christians in our country, who were closer to the rhythms of creation than we are in our industrialised society.

Whilst on Holy Island we walked the Pilgrims Way across the sands covered each day by the tides.  For centuries Christian pilgrims have walked the same route to Holy Island - it was a powerful reminder to me that we are all pilgrim's on the Christian Way and retreating to advance has always been part of that pilgrimmage. 

Both retreats caused me to look again at my own life and the outside forces that were squeezing me into their molds.  As I retreated from this world for a while I was strengthened spiritually and emotionally to return to the world and to make advances both in how I live my life and in how I relate to others and this world in which we live.

Going "on retreat" is not something I have done very often but it has helped me to advance.  I wonder what opportunities we could provide to help others retreat to advance?  What retreat could you take?

Martin