I just got back from four absolutely relaxing and stress-free days of retreat. And let me tell you, I loved being in the country.
Whenever I go the back way to my friend Nancy’s retreat center, I have to drive over this bridge. Coming from California, I don’t think I was ever on a one lane bridge until traveling across this one, known as the Fourpoints Bridge.
I hate to say it, but I’m always so busy, I never really took the time to check the bridge out until this little retreat.
Here in Maryland, the humidity has finally broken and we’ve had some really nice, warm days. Although I enjoy hot weather, I could absolutely do without humidity.
Even though I’ve lived here for over twenty years, my body has never adjusted to it, and it zaps me of a ton of energy. Ah, the joys of living in the Mid Atlantic states 🙂
Some of my family spent the weekend trying to get away from the heat, and ended up at the ocean. While it was much cooler there, it was also quite foggy.
I guess you have to take what you can get 🙂
We’ve had such intense heat and humidity lately, I wish I had been with them. In fact, I would have longed for a touch of the coolness that comes with foggy days. Of course, all this got me thinking about some of those situations in life that can also be shrouded in a kind of fog.
Two weeks ago, my family and I were supposed to go on a beach vacation. We had been looking forward to it for months, and had eagerly laid out plans for a wonderful time.
Because of illness, the trip got cancelled, and it was a letdown for all of us. I decided to still take the week off, but do some things around the house, work on my website, and develop a new project that I’ll be telling you about in the next couple of weeks 🙂
Two of my fondest memories of living on the East Coast involve the 4th of July. Moving from California to Maryland to attend Johns Hopkins in the crazy hot month of August, I came too late that first year. But when July came around again, one of my friends had the idea that we should all head to Washington D.C. to see the fireworks.
Sitting on the Mall that night, I had no idea what I was in for. When the first fireworks were sent up, they were pretty good, especially with the Washington Monument and the Capital as the backdrop. But these fireworks went on and on and on, getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Never in my life had I seen such a display. It was awe-inspiring.
Who could blame the disciples? Here they are, on a little boat, Jesus asleep, and a violent storm whips up. They are scared out of their minds, thinking that they’re going to die.
As the boat was being swamped by the waves, they wake Jesus up. The Gospel writer Matthew writes (8:23-27) that the men shout, “Lord save us! We are perishing!” Jesus, being the Person that He is, was not amused. They just don’t get it, He probably thought to Himself. First, He rebuked them for not having faith. Then, He rebuked the wind and the sea, and everything instantly calmed down.
Most of the time, I think we’re just like those disciples on the boat.
This past weekend, I went on a Men’s Retreat with a Catholic group called the King’s Men. Overall, it was a great experience for me and the two guys I went with.
Rustic to say the least, the retreat took place at French Creek State Park in Pennsylvania, not too far from Amish Country.
The 120 participants varied widely in age and background, and came from up and down the eastern seaboard.
Everything the King’s Men do has three common themes running through: How can men be better leaders, protectors, and providers for their families, friends, and community. I got a lot out of how these themes were presented, and overall the retreat left me with much to think about.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24The dog got me up extra early this morning, and as I let her out to do her business, I could see that we had the beginnings of a beautiful day.
The sun was nowhere close to being up yet, but it wasn’t dark either. The air was warm and there was a nice breeze blowing. I got my coffee and sat on my patio, thinking about the day ahead.
Graduations are in full swing, with all the parties to follow. Tomorrow, the seniors I’ve been working with for the last four years at Mc Daniel College will receive their diplomas and head off into the world. Time flies.
One soon to be Mc Daniel Alumnus will be doing missionary work on college campuses through FOCUS. Another is trying his hand at developing an on-line business or two. 🙂 I wish them nothing but success.
I’ll also be attending several graduation parties tomorrow. All these activities has given me pause to recall my own “big” graduation, when I received my Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins, twenty years ago this week.
Why do we have to make things so complicated? Sometimes, I think we’re our own worst enemy, and that can be applied to just about everything, including our relationship with God.
We start with the best intentions, desiring to be focused and consistent in our prayer. We use our prayer aids, which can be very helpful, but we also have to be careful that the tools not become more important than the prayer itself.