The Perfect Retreat

What makes a perfect retreat?

The particular group that came this weekend loves outdoor winter activities, and the weather was very accommodating. A light fluffy snow fell all weekend long, covering every surface with a sparkling white blanket. The tubing hill was noisy with shouts of adults and children alike riding oversized inner tubes. The toboggan hill and the sky glide provided fun for those more adventurous. At the other end of the camp ground, the lake was frozen solid and availed itself for activities like skating and ice fishing by enthusiastic "polar bears." One enterprising young boy caught a fish and cooked two inch-long filets over the fire at the tubing hill.

Everyone that visits camp, enjoys the opportunity to relax and enjoy time with family and friends. In the fireside room, folks sat by the fireplace or played ping-pong and pool and enjoyed quite a bit of coffee. Kids chased each other up and down the hallways and through the dining room. Meals were enjoyed as families with parents and children interacting with ease.

Services were meaningful with good messages to encourage Christians in their walk with the Lord, and serious attention was given to God's word.

Yes, the snow did make some travel treacherous, the chapel did overheat once, one batch of meatballs did cook a bit too long, but no one seemed to mind much. The air of fellowship, fun, and rest was a blessing to everyone, and the beauty of nature refreshed minds and bodies. Yes, it was a perfect retreat!

It's (not) All Up to Me

Teachers, parents, and whoever you are responsible for the development of other people: Do you ever watch the up and down progress of your charges and wonder if you’re messing up, ruining them? It’s such a big responsibility to oversee the growth of a person. My influence on a person affects the next stage of their life and the next.

As a teacher, I know I am responsible for my students’ care. I know that what I do can determine how they advance. I know that it requires much more than I can give, and that as a human I am prone to inability, to weakness, and to failure. Sometimes I think of King Solomon and pray what he prayed.  

O Lord my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in…give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? (I Kings 3:7, 9)

In other words: You gave me this job. It's beyond my ability. Please supernaturally enable me to do it.

Today’s Schedule of Responsibility: 

1. Identify the required activities for my position today.
2. Decide which I can do and which I know I can’t. 
3. Pray begging God to intervene in the ones I can't do.

He is now responsible for the results. And that’s a pretty safe place to leave it!