The retreat

A couple of weeks ago, 16 youth descended upon our cottage for what is now referred to as the Annual Amberlea Youth Cottage Retreat.

It was a wonderfully busy, loud and yet remarkably spiritual weekend. The theme was forgiveness: being forgiven, forgiving others and forgiving ourselves. Our youth director facilitated group sessions complete with activities and time for self reflection and prayer. It was wonderful to see these young people earnestly work through this very important topic. I had the privilege on Saturday night to lead the group in the sacrament of Communion - a clear and tangible reminder of God’s love and forgiveness for each of us.  It was a very powerful time.

The best part of the “ cottage retreat” for me, besides the swimming, tubing, games, hanging out, eating meals together, and of course the s’mores, is that it gave me time to think about my personal relationship with God. Even though I was busy helping where I could, I was reminded of how important it is for us to take time to reflect and retreat spiritually.

We get so busy with our day to day lives that it’s almost like we’re stuck in a tunnel – just seeing what is right in front of us. But God calls us to set our minds on things above (Colossians 3:2). I think one of the best ways to do this is to find some time and reflect and pray. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to go away on retreat – sometimes just going for a walk to pray can do the same thing.

And guess what? Jesus is a wonderful role model regarding this. When Jesus started to get busy with people crowding around him, this is what the Bible says He did:

He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. (Luke 5:16)

And at another time it says:

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (Mark 1:35)

If Jesus did that, maybe we should try too?

This week, let’s endeavour set a time to get away from everything and pray, whether it’s in your car, in your bathroom or walking outside. 

Personally, I do my greatest praying while I am in the car alone. I just talk out loud to God while passersby assume that I am on the phone - hands-free of course  ;)  When at the cottage, my most sacred times are when I am the first one swimming in the lake. I love when all I can hear is the movement of the water around me. For me it is a fully immersive spiritual experience.

What are those spiritual times for you?

A compass and a clock

At a Ministry conference I attended some years ago, a workshop facilitator was talking about work (ministry), life balance.  I will never forget the facilitator standing at the front of the room with outstretched arms holding a clock in one hand and a compass in the other.

“ So what I want you to do” she said, “is take a minute and write all the details you can about each of the items.”

A clock and a compass.

The group concluded that the clock represented our commitments, appointments, schedules, goals, and activities. It’s how we manage our time. 

The compass represented our vision, values, principles, mission, direction-and our relationship with God.

Ultimately we all agreed that balancing the clock and the compass, though difficult, was important!

Jesus understood this.

He said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

We all face the challenge of trying to live by the compass, not the clock. Keeping the compass in mind helps us keep the big picture in view.

So, what is your direction? How can you better balance your life?

As we begin the summer month of August, it is my prayer that God will help us to live by a compass and maintain balance in our lives.

Protection from the 94mph pitch!

It’s summer – hot sticky days, little children in brilliantly colored soccer jerseys that go down to their knees, the smell of cooked meat in the air, neighbours out of hibernation - gardening, washing their cars or just hanging around.  With VBC now completed Amberlea is in full summer mode.  This year it means our doors are open Sunday thru Thursday with Breakfast Club, weekly youth events,  and Musical Theatre Camps.  Praise God for Air Conditioning!!!

As many of you know, one of my favourite summer past times is baseball.  I love baseball – not so much the playing (it’s hard to play in heels) - I love going to baseball games, and for me there is no other team than our own Toronto Blue Jays.  

There is something about being in the stadium in amongst the crowd, cheering our team on and offering the umpire our own opinions – so fun – and I am usually right ;).  There is nothing like the sound of a ball that connects with a bat - that sends the ball soaring right out of the park, and there is nothing like the sound of a ninety-five mile per hour fastball firmly caught into the catcher’s mitt. “Thunk”. What a sound.  But can you imagine what it would feel like to be on the receiving end of one of those fastballs without a glove?  One can’t even imagine catching a ball at that speed barehanded.  

Catch after catch, pitch after pitch, the catchers hand would be unspeakably sore if it were not protected by a specially designed, thick leather glove – and it dawned on me as I was watching a game recently that God is a lot like a catcher’s mitt.

David knew this when he wrote Psalm 32.  He said of God:  “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with sounds of deliverance.”   

David may not have known about baseball gloves but he did know that life was not easy – and he knew God was all the protection he needed from all that life threw his way.

David knew in full confidence that this amazing God, the Maker of heaven and earth, would protect him.  He knew that God would keep him from all harm, watch over him daily and throughout his life forever (check out Psalm 121).

Friends, I am convinced that if we don’t have God in our lives it would be like catching a ninety-four mile per hour pitch with our bare hands – ouch!

Do you know with the same certainty, that David did, that your help comes from God?