Retreats are settings of holy leisure. They invite us to heed the words of the Savior: Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest (Mark 6:31). For centuries those seeking God have found that spiritual retreat is a way to connect with God in life-transforming ways. The practice of setting aside a few hours or days to spend in God’s presence, listening to his voice and attending to his gentle heart-nudgings, typically brings renewed vigor to one’s relationship with God and provides fresh energy for the spiritual journey.

Retreats take place in settings of prayer and peacefulness. There is something refreshing about time spent in settings of natural beauty and devotion to prayer. Some places designate themselves as retreat centers. Their primary ministry is one of hospitality toward those who come seeking God on retreat. Some people make a habit of attending prayer retreats with a group, finding profound spiritual energy through praying in sacred space with others who seek God in the same setting. Others find they need time alone to retreat, when there is no group agenda to follow. Both play a vital role in spiritual formation.

Many times persons attend a retreat with expectations of what the retreat will be like or with a preconceived notion of how they will encounter God during the retreat. They may come looking for particular answers or to find direction for life-situations they face. These are legitimate reasons to retreat; yet, most always the retreat experience is different from what the retreatant anticipates. God meets us and sustains us in ways we do not expect. Those experienced in spiritual retreat learn to go on retreat with a spirit of openness, ready for whatever God wants to do and open to however God wants to lead us on our spiritual journey. This spirit of receptivity to whatever God brings will serve us well in all of life as we learn to listen and respond to the many-faceted call of God upon us.