A relationship with the Divine can feel like a game of hide-and-seek. The good news is that God is always inviting you to return home. Wherever you are in your relationship, the Sacred will meet you.

We all have an inner door that opens and closes to God's love in ways we may not even realize. I recognize the rhythm of opening and closing the door, depending on what is happening in my life and when old wounds reappear. In this reflection, you are invited to reflect on door imagery to help you sort through questions that may be buried in your heart. May the belief in the endless love on the other side give you the courage to engage in the journey.

Too often in life, we run from one event to the next or from one crisis to the next without taking the time to reflect on what happened and how we are changing and growing as a result. Here at Retreat, Reflect, Renew, our retreat season is like a school year, running from September through June. My intention with these reflections is to create a journey for you throughout the season.

You may think you don’t have time for this kind of thing. Speaking strictly as an adult, you probably do not, and that is entirely the point of the exercise.

Work hard, serve, do your duty, sacrifice. Know your mission, purpose, and influence. These are words and phrases I remember hearing a lot about from childhood through adulthood.

I have always been one who never wanted to miss anything. Anything fun, that is, even going so far as to create a system for myself so that I wouldn’t miss anything.

I invite you to connect with the God of Play. Try skipping, humming, dancing, singing, even daydreaming, and invite God into those moments with you. Invite God into your laughter as a way of recognizing the joy in the ordinary and accepting the imperfections of life.