This month’s theme, “Pause and Practice” is an invitation to reflect on your growth. Each Sunday throughout this month we will offer a practice you can use to help you unearth the still voice of God calling you to a deeper wholeness. 

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. 

After hearing your reaction to last month’s reflection (“Let’s Talk about Church”), I realize there is a lot more to talk about. A common theme emerged from your feedback: many who struggle with church do so because they have a deep desire for community. And with good reason. Community can help us get through the roughest times in life.

Practicing your faith in a changing world is challenging no matter what religion. Whether you are happy with your church, feeling empty without one, or fall somewhere in between, I offer you my personal story in the hopes of opening up a safe place to talk about this issue that is weighing heavy on so many hearts.

When you commit to a journey of faith, you are on a lifelong pilgrimage, persevering through the ups and downs of life step-by-step. You are forever a pilgrim walking into the light.