Reflections from the Redwoods
I like moving and working at a fast pace. I tend to have a ton of energy most days, which allows me to carry out significant assignments in this season of my life. And at the same time, I’m fully human just like you. This means I get exhausted and depleted at times. I can’t just keep going without eventually having to pay a high price for it…and neither can you.
I recently spent a weekend in the Redwoods with more than 400 people from Epic Church - San Francisco. It’s hard to put into words how special this time away was for me. Everyone I spoke to had a similar experience. I’d love to share a few of the things I learned and encourage you to put these into your life as well.
Stepping back from your life is one of the best ways to move forward in your life.
We all want to make progress in our lives, but we think this means we should never take a break from the high-impact life we want to live. I think it’s important to physically and mentally pull away from our normal environments so that we can adequately reflect on the life we’re living. I think this is best done by getting some distance from it. I love what my friend Mark Batterson says - “A change of pace + a change of place = a change of perspective.” Just stepping back from my full life gave me the distance I needed to reflect on the life I’m living.
It’s so valuable to have extended time with the people who matter most in your life.
While a solitude retreat has its own benefits, I’m so grateful that I got away on this retreat with the people who matter most to me. My wife, Shauna, was there. Three of my four kids were part of this weekend (our oldest is already working at Pine Cove Camp for the summer). Most of my ten closest friends came along as well. It’s great to get a coffee or lunch or take a walk with a friend or family member. But when’s the last time you scheduled extended time to be away together? I want to encourage you to look at your calendar and schedule some time away with the people who matter most in your life.
Getting away from all the noise is necessary if you’re going to listen to the voices that matter most in your life.
I love living in a city. There’s so much to do here. However, being surrounded by constant noise wears on my mind and on my soul. One of the first things we learned at the retreat center is that our phones did not get service. I know you’re wondering how we survived 😀. We weren’t scrolling social media or watching TV or responding constantly to email. We were present and our souls began to catch their breath. When we get away from all the noise, we tend to see clearly and hear what we’ve been missing in our daily, noisy lives. Maybe you can’t get up to the Redwoods this weekend. Still, I bet you can find a park in your city where you can escape for a couple of hours. See what it does for your soul and if you find yourself already planning for the next day you can escape the noise that surrounds you.
