No matter who you are, there is a good chance you could use some time away. Some time to yourself. Some time to connect with God, do some thinking about your life and your relationship with Him, and to spend some really intentional time in prayer and Scripture. And now that summer is here, it’s easier to do so than it has been all year.
First of all you’ll want to decide how long you want to be away from everything. Do you need just a few hours alone or do you want a couple of days to yourself? Take a weekend–everyone has them.
Then, look into options for where you can have your retreat. Do you need to be near home, or can you venire further away?
Places to consider: state and national parks, local parks, monasteries, a campsite, the beach/lakefront or, really, anywhere that’s quiet and will let you commune with God. If you’re planning on staying one night more, monasteries will often let you stay for a very reasonable price, and obviously camping gear will work for most parks.
Be intentional about your time. Take your Bible, bring along a few books if you want, spend time writing in a journal, praying, practicing intentional silence and meditating on Scripture. Try to strip away distractions and focus. It’s OK to get sidetracked or even a little bored on occasion–the point is being in the tension of the space.
Trust us, God will be faithful in meeting you where you are. What matters is you took the first step to get there.
