Understanding Our needs

Over the weekend, I participated in our church women’s retreat.  Due to the pandemic, it was virtual and I was on the planning team to prepare ahead of time.  Our team had many discussions about how to create a “connected” experience amid a landscape where everyone is tired of life on screens.  Prior to the retreat, I will confess that I felt a little dread.  The thought of spending a beautiful Saturday staring at my screen was not exactly what I thought I needed.  

In addition, many of the speaker topics were related to things like racial reconciliation, grief and loss, and parenting in a pandemic.  I felt like I was ready for something more along the lines of the Hallmark Channel.  I wasn’t sure if my brain would be up to the challenge of tackling those deep subjects.  However, I had made a commitment and intended to see it through.

The day before the retreat, a friend and I decided that she would come to my porch and we would watch together.  Again, I was not sure if this was what I needed.   I was going to be involved in the nuts and bolts of leading the sessions (making introductions, watching the chat, etc.) and wondered if I would be able to visit with her.  However, we decided to give it a try.  

Now, let’s fast forward to Sunday night after the retreat was over.  We had around 75 participants from many different generations.  It was a great success and many of the women gave positive feedback about their experience.    However, most importantly, I will share my experience. 

It was terrific!  The time on the porch with my friend was very helpful and restorative.  The details of the retreat came together nicely, with a few minor hiccups.  The speakers were wonderful and I learned so much.  Probably the most critical thing was that it felt connected…even though we were all on individual screens in many different places.  We were a group.  We bonded with each other.  Some of us had not seen each other in months.  In addition, it created hope for where we are going in the future.  

So, my greatest lesson from this experience is, at times I lack clarity about what I need…but God doesn’t.  God meets us where we are at all times.  There is no doubt in my mind that our retreat success was not due to the plans we made beforehand.  However, it was due to the strength and goodness of the Holy Spirit to partner with us.  

One of the speakers shared a quote that really spoke to me.  It was “God is always there but we are not always aware”.   I walked away wondering how my life would be different if I increased my awareness.  This question will take some time to ponder… 

Questions for reflection: 

Does God understand your needs better than you do? 

What are some ways you can shift your focus to become more aware of God? 

Do you see a pattern in the way God is trying to communicate with you?