Last week, fifteen guys spent two days together. A 123 mile ride through the Georgia hills and autumn colors. A Thursday afternoon, Friday, and Saturday morning of October 2023 offered authenticity and laughter, prayer and worship, long talks and long walks. Step by step, our statements declared hope, our jokes shifted the stress, our confessions released worry.
Nothing was normal. The moments were all new. A new view, a new gathering of guys who had not gathered together before, a new three days we’d never lived before.
I saw and heard much. I learned much. Though I didn’t sleep much at all, I experienced much. Bunk beds. A lunch on the third floor roof. A walk on what felt to be a tall mountain—though I knew it was tiny when compared to others.
Uncomfortable sleeping arrangements reminding me of comfort and the difference between wants and needs.
Stories reminding me why endurance and community and prayer and confession and spiritual growth are huge needs to today’s culture.
Some played golf.
Some walked through town.
Some slept a little.
Some didn’t sleep at all.
Some led in song.
Some sang along.
But I think we all knew that place and time were unique. Those honest conversations with fifteen guys were unique. Those two days 123 miles from home were unique.
And needed.
I pray we all take similar trips. I also pray we all apply the lessons we learned from that trip.
Even if we’re not driving 123 miles through the Georgia mountains or trying to sleep in a cabin or singing old songs with the guys. Take two days—or two hours—and grab a new glimpse.
The view might never be the same.
Life might never be the same.
Time well spent, a little money we’ll invested, and most of all, lives impacted by the presence of Christ! Looking forward to seeing fruit produced as a result in hungry hearts in pursuit of God.
Women do this — go on retreats — more often than men. But we ALL need it. Even Jesus needed the seclusion of going up on a tall — or tiny — mountain to pray and be with His Father. Fellowship with God and fellowship with one another are vital to the eudaimonia (human flourishing) of the soul.
I hope the Goldmine men take this time often to replenish and rekindle the Holy Spirit within.
This blog was a really good reminder to prioritize taking 2 days or even just two hours to spend time in God’s creation as well as fellowship with others. Taking time to learn from each other and just love each other. We need a community to walk through life together with. I loved this post!
Taking time to build relationships with those around you is key for growth. We can’t do life alone we have to communicate and gather with those around us. Even then those group discussions and group meetings can bring us closer to God. It doesn’t have to be a retreat into the mountains it can also be anywhere as long as he is the focus.
I’m so happy for the restoration you were all able to experience on your retreat. I think that dedicating a time and place to God is a great way to truly focus on God with no distractions.
I really enjoyed this. This reminded me that I need to take more time to BE with God and admire His creation. I believe those times can encourage serious growth as I am sure you experienced in your time away. God needs to be the escape, the rest.
I just love this blog and the experiences along with spiritual growth we can have with people. It just reminds me that we need a community to help us grow spiritually. I love the point you pointed out about being comfortable in sleeping arrangements as a want, not a need. This just reminds me that I won’t always be comfortable, but I will always have what I need. For me having community is not always a comfortable thing because I love to worship God alone, but sometimes it is needed for me to help me grow and strive. We can not do this walk alone, we need people in our lives and times of worship together.
Spending time in fellowship with others is so important finding those people in your life that you can simply slow down and spend time with it whether that be for two hours or all weekend. This trip sounds like a great experience and was a great reminder of things I need to do in my life.
The view might never be the same. Isn’t that the goal? Seek discomfort. Look for new avenues and opportunities to live. Routine is important and yet monotonous at times. If we’re not careful we can become slaves to it, milling about never seeking new. Unplug. Go for a drive. A walk. A flight. A dive. There are many opportunities for new, one just has to seek them.
This blog post is a good reminder to just slow down and look around you. See what people are doing, what are their normal routines? What do they get caught up in doing? See how others function and see how they react to certain things or ideas. This will help you become aware of what it around you. This is important for me because I will always forget what and who is around me. Take in the little things and notice all the tiny details.