3 minute read
On Purpose at the Women’s Retreat
from Unleashed Magazine
by abidinghope
On Purpose at the Women’s Retreat By: Marilyn Watson
When the world is spinning 1,000 miles per hour, it’s difficult just to try to keep up, let alone feel like you are in control of your life. In an effort to find themselves and their purpose, 21 women from Abiding Hope attended the Women’s Retreat last fall. I was lucky enough to be the main presenter for the weekend.
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There were women of all ages and stages of life together for the weekend. Some were married, some divorced. Some women were retired, some working, and some busy with kids in the house. The ladies were all open and loving.
Leaving on a Friday afternoon, we journeyed from Denver to Highlands Presbyterian Retreat Center in Allenspark, Colorado. The setting was spectacular, with a backdrop of rugged mountains out our meeting room window and a pine forest and lake to help us explore God’s greatness.
That evening, as an ice breaker, Lynn Grasberg led us in a fun improv situation that involved costumes, hats, feathers, and our imagination. We quickly got to know each other and began our weekend with intentional relationships developing amidst hearty laughter. As the first evening wound down, we retired to our cozy beds, looking forward to the next day’s program.
After a good, hot breakfast, we gathered back in the meeting room with our mountain view. We spent the morning in learning and discussion about our sense of purpose in life, with a snack and time to chat.
Free time on Saturday afternoon provided opportunities to rest, take a hike around the lake, or visit with our sisters. My favorite experience was an uphill hike through the pines and granite boulders. The weather was cold, so we bundled up in hats, jackets, and gloves. We hiked to the top of the hill, where three trees trimmed into crosses were waiting.
“Imagine a group of determined women hiking up a very steep, stony mountain trail. Imagine balancing at the wind-whipped summit on loose cobbles and sharp boulders. Imagine discovering, though fatigued, there is still a bit further to climb. Imagine rounding an outcrop at the apex, seeing three humble, steadfast, weathered tree-branch crosses perched on a desolate cliff. Imagine Holy Ground.”
After our break, we enjoyed a hearty dinner and then wrapped up our learning session. With the lights dimmed and candles on each table, we answered several questions (what, so what, and now what?) in relation to what we had experienced. The session ended with a moving prayer and a strong feeling of God being with us. We spent the rest of the evening enjoying more snacks (yes, again) and doing several craft and service projects. After all, we ARE the heart, hands, and feet of Jesus.
One woman said she felt the On Purpose material was concise and thought-provoking. Another attendee said, “I learned a lot. Especially that I was not using the things I truly valued in my daily life.” A third woman said she had been feeling that she might not be in the right place in her life and needed a change. She said that after going through the material and spending time in discussion, she realized she was right where God wanted her to be!
One of my favorite comments came from a lovely woman who said:
During our time together, we experienced authentic worship and intentional relationships as we
communed, laughed, and learned together. We experienced radical generosity by giving of our time to be together and using our hands during our service projects. An hour before it was time to depart, I witnessed one member of our group brave the cold and snow, scraping the ice off everyone’s cars. She swore me to secrecy, but I observed her act of service with a full and grateful heart.
When asked where I saw God, I stood before the group and, with a few tears, answered, “In your faces.” It was such a privilege to serve, teach, and learn together with my sisters in Christ.
We invite anyone to come with us on the next Abiding Hope Women’s Retreat.
