It’s been really exciting planning my first Getaway with God, the idea of a personal retreat sounds just like the thing I need right now. Sometimes we just need a moment to get our head on straight, focus back to where it should be, and I can’t wait.
I must admit some of the planning aspect has been easy since I am tacking this on to an existing trip. So answering the when and where questions were a bit of a no brainer. In fact, I think if I had to plan it from scratch verses adding it to an existing trip… it may have been harder. My focus in planning, now, has been the details.
Am I going to lock myself in my space for the day and just really concentrate on God? Do I want to venture out to enjoy His creation? And where will I do that when I am staying in a major city? I do have access to a small kitchen, so I could stop by a store and load up on snacks and meals to munch on, or I could go for a quick bite or order in. So many options!
Since my retreat isn’t off in a quiet location, I had to veer off from the book a little bit. I need to get my hands on a map of the area, locating a local park perhaps. I know there is a zoo in fairly close proximity, and that could be interesting. I can’t think of a time I have ever gone to a zoo completely on my own. But what an opportunity to see such variety in God’s created animals. I can also use the map to find places to eat that are near by and figure out what will work in my budget. I’ve decided that being my first personal retreat, I won’t be fasting (at least from food).
In the book there is a sample schedule for the 24 Hour Retreat, and I think that will really helpful to follow for my first retreat. It also helped me to figure out what I would need to pack.
My largest hurdle is determining what type of retreat this will be, especially knowing that following the retreat is going to be a fast paced conference weekend. On the one hand, I think a Restorative Retreat would be a beautiful way to prepare myself for the conference. I would be able to rest up, prep my heart for what God would reveal to it during the conference, and set my mind into the right mode to learn.
A Listening Retreat could be a great way to put a cap on some things that have been weighing me down before the Lord reveals new things to me at the conference. I have some lingering questions regarding certain situations that I would love to address. Perhaps getting away and being alone with God is exactly what I need to find that peace.
I also have the ministry that I work with, and having a solid 24 hours to dedicate to Goal Setting would be wonderful. My only caveat with this option is that I’m not sure I can do too much goal setting without the rest of my team there. So perhaps this is a different retreat for another day.
What does this all mean? It means my biggest priority right now is to be in prayer and covet the prayers of those closest to me about WHY I am going on this retreat and what God would have me do with this time.
Gena McCown 