From Day Retreats to Overnight Retreats: Unlocking the Power of Deeper Reflection and Community

From Day Retreats to Overnight Retreats: Unlocking the Power of Deeper Reflection and Community

[Jesus] said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while” (Mark 6:31).

Last week, I reflected on the above verse after a conversation with a friend. It is remarkable how much Jesus prioritized taking time to rest, reflect, and request. I have intentionally chosen the word, “request,” instead of “prayer,” for prayer is the means by which we make our requests known to God. Too often, instead of taking time to seek God’s guidance and strength, we become preoccupied with trying to accomplish everything on our own.

Too Busy?

I have often found myself guilty of being overly busy, striving to accomplish everything at once. Although I sought God’s guidance and prayed about my endeavors, this pursuit frequently became more of a background concept than a living reality. However, it was during retreats that I experienced some of my most significant breakthroughs and periods of growth. 

At one overnight retreat I attended, I vividly remember receiving a prompt and then having the opportunity to reflect on it. Being away from the daily hustle and bustle allowed me to engage in deep self-reflection regarding my current state and my journey. I emerged from that experience with a deeper understanding of myself, my role, and a renewed commitment to God and to others.

However, in today’s society, it is all too easy to rush around, preoccupied with good deeds and striving to create even more positive outcomes. Amidst this flurry of activity, we often overlook Jesus’ reminder to retreat to a quiet place and take time to rest.

Here Comes Jesus

When Jesus said, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while,” He and His disciples had been engaged in significant activities. Jesus Himself was continually active—teaching, preaching, healing, forgiving sins, and encouraging those He encountered. This verse in Mark 6:31 was preceded by Jesus sending His twelve disciples on a mission to carry out similar work to His own.

In the midst of this activity, tragedy struck. King Herod beheaded Jesus’ cousin and forerunner, John the Baptist. It was a time of mourning.

As the disciples returned from their mission and reported to Jesus on all that they had accomplished, he offered them—and himself—the opportunity and space to recharge. This was more profound than the typical weekly rest.

Now, as a Jew, Jesus, along with his disciples, observed the Sabbath. This practice involved taking weekly breaks from work and attending the synagogue with others who gathered to worship and listen to the Scriptures. So, what was different about the rest that Jesus referred to in Mark 6:31?

After an intense period of purposeful, God-centered activity combined with grief, they needed to escape the daily noise and bustle, the cares and responsibilities, and the expected routine. Jesus recognized the necessity of a space dedicated to rest, which would promote rejuvenation and offer greater clarity for their work.

This is what you need, what we all need—a space to rest and rejuvenate.

From Day Retreats to Overnight Retreats: Unlocking the Power of Deeper Reflection and Community

Why Retreat? Why Overnight Retreats?

So, during the conversation I mentioned earlier, my friend asked me why I was organizing the upcoming overnight retreat. This prompted me to recall the verse from Mark 6:31: “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” Additionally, there was an unspoken question in her inquiry: what is the difference between day retreats and overnight retreats?

The day retreats I plan serve as a pause for rest, reflection, and renewal. They offer a respite and a reminder of who God is and your relationship with Him.

However, it is during the overnight retreat that you can fully immerse yourself in a community of like-minded individuals and take time to rest. 

This setting allows for greater focus on your reflections, a slower pace to absorb strategies and tools for enjoying rest and clarity in your daily life, and the opportunity to engage in deeper connections with others who share a similar quest over a longer duration than what one-day retreats can provide.

This is the invitation for the overnight retreat, as well as for the day retreats, to a lesser extent:

Just Do It

Even if you are unable to attend one of the Pathway to Clarity Retreats I have organized and to which I invite you, remember the words of Jesus to His disciples: your deserted place, go there, and take some time to rest. When you do so, be sure to focus on these three things:

Eliminate, or at least minimize, interruptions. This can be achieved by turning off your cell phone and finding a location where others will respect your need for solitude.

I invite you to join my overnight retreat, where this is already built in for you. Dedicated to helping you find clarity amid change, it will be held from Thursday, October 17 to Friday October 18, 2024. I have a pre-early bird special going now. You will find information and details at https://pathwaytoclarityretreats.com/.

In general, retreats facilitate deeper reflection. However, overnight retreats with like-minded individuals unlock the potential for profound introspection and community building. Therefore, I encourage you to schedule at least one overnight retreat each year.

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