Unguided Retreats
Lying Fallow: Replenishing Your Life’s Soil
We know a pastor who was flirting with burnout and in desperate need of getting away for a retreat. He decided to call a local convent he’d heard of to see if they’d take him in. When he asked if he could come for a couple days, the nun’s first question to him was, “Are you a pastor?” When he said yes, she responded, “No, you can’t come for a couple days.” He was stunned. But then she continued, “Look, two days just isn’t enough. We’ve found that you pastors need at least two days just to catch up on sleep and decompress. You’re welcome to come for longer if you’d like.”
Sometimes the most needed thing is just that: to sleep long and hard, take naps at will, eat good meals, spend time alone staring at the wall or reading or listening to music, and to do this both away from your normal environment and in the heart of a welcoming community. We’d like to offer this to you. In keeping with the sage counsel above, we encourage you to stay for at least 3 days. You can also take advantage of spiritual direction, marriage counseling, and massage.