Encountering Christ

Today is the last day for the Fox Valley Women's Walk to Emmaus #16 in Wisconsin. We are so excited to hear of the success of this spiritual retreat there. After all, Daddy and I were on the ground floor of those walks and helped get the community started. I served as the Lay Director of Women's Walk #2 and Daddy was Lay Director of Men's Walk #3. My children know how much the Walk to Emmaus means to us. Brad will tell you his life changed there. He still today refers to his life as pre-Emmaus and post-Emmaus.

We are thrilled that both Ayla and Anton have been on Chrysalis, the youth version of the Walk to Emmaus. What we love about the weekend is the way it is completely covered in prayer, caters to the individual, showers participants with love and meets them right where they need to be met on their spiritual journey. No two people will experience the same weekend. We have seen miracle after miracle on those weekends. While you can only attend once, we've sponsored about 35 people for walks - two more in May - and worked a good many of them. Ayla and Anton will tell you they are not actual "walks" (like a 5K). It's named for the passage in Luke 24 where two men encounter the risen Christ on the road to the town of Emmaus. Their eyes are opened when they realized who they are with and see all that Christ fulfilled in the Scriptures. This encounter with Jesus on that walk, changed those men's lives and  inspired them to share the story of the Good News.

The weekend retreat goes from Thursday to Sunday (or sometimes Wednesday to Saturday). It includes 15 talks (five by clergy and 10 by lay people) on subjects such as priorities, study, service, discipleship and grace. You worship, have communion, sing, eat and fellowship every single day. There are surprises along the way and participants are constantly told "Don't anticipate." The weekend is designed to allow pilgrims on the journey to have a stress free weekend alone with God. It's a powerful ecumenical experience. And working them is just as fun.

If either Rob or Kayla are ever interested in going on a walk, we will move heaven and earth to make it happen. We love these weekends and love how they grow people and help them to remain accountable in their faith. And we feel everyone deserves to have this experience. It isn't the only way to have a powerful spiritual growth spurt, but it's a good way.

We bring the Walk up because we feel it is important to have spiritual retreats as often as you can. To get away to focus on the Lord is so powerful. So any time you have the opportunity (weekend retreats, conferences, concentrated Bible studies, day retreats, marriage retreats, church-wide retreats), do it. We are planning a summer church retreat for our church for this summer, and you know I help put on a Ladies Beach Retreat every fall. It's a powerful time of connecting with God and others and like the actual encounter with the risen Christ on that road to Emmaus, inspires you to want to share the Good News.

Never stop seeking ways to grow. It will be so uplifting, challenging and encouraging for you, your faith and your relationships.

Discussion: Share about a retreat experience you have had. How did it change or inspire you?

Prayer: Father, we thank You for the many opportunities there are for spiritual growth. Father, when you want us to learn something new or participate, open the doors for us to see those experiences. We love you, Lord, and delight in every encounter with You. In Jesus, Amen.