This weekend, I spent 24 hours in a silent, personal retreat with God. It was partly for a class, but also something I have been wanting to do for awhile. I went to a retreat center near Berrien where I could be alone with God in nature. It was an incredible experience and I am just now beginning to understand all that happened. A lot of what was communicated went straight from God to my heart, and it hasn't all registered in my head yet.It provided me the opportunity to sort through some questions I had been wrestling with. Questions at the core of my relationship with God and my understanding of Him. I had no set agenda or plan, but it seems God did. He first made me confront the issues that have been tripping me up and getting in the way of my understanding of Him. Then He led me as I tried to understand what God's love is, and consequently who God is. It was only after realizing these things that I could address the direction He has for my life, which had begun to nag at me. But above all else, it gave me a chance to reconnect. 24 hours of just me and God. No cell phone and no internet (gasp!). I really feel much more connected to Him, and it's a connection I've been needing.
I would encourage any of you that are struggling with something, or simply sensing a disconnectedness from God to do the same. Isolate yourself with Him. Spend intentional quality time with Him. And at least for me, nature is always a great place for this. The spot in the picture is where I did a lot of praying. For all my complaining about Berrien Springs, the colors of the leaves changing is beautiful.
