Since my youth, God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.
Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, my God,
till I declare your power to the next generation,
your mighty acts to all who are to come. – Psalm 71:17-18
I’m starting this week already tired. But in a good way. Or maybe a better word is “spent.” I just returned from a Friday-through-Sunday men’s retreat at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. I had the privilege of speaking and facilitating and it was a good experience all around.
It was especially beneficial to disconnect from the day-to-day news cycle featuring political gamesmanship, lies, half-truths, manipulation, power-plays, and unsavory rancor. I didn’t see it, I didn’t hear it, I didn’t read it, and we didn’t talk about it. Instead, we all encouraged each other in our ongoing journey as men committed to being leaders and change agents in a culture where Christian manhood is misunderstood, misrepresented, and – in my view – seldom practiced in a way that shares much of the light of Christ with a world hungry for a good word from his followers.
Change Agents:
We were clear from the beginning that the weekend at Smith Mountain Lake was not intended to be a retreat where all we did was get closer to God, sing kumbaya, and feel good about ourselves as spiritual beings. Obviously, our personal faith walk is always important, but this time the focus was on recognizing that a huge part of being a disciple is the exercise of leadership. Simply put, we are called to lead other men to live into a better story.
the focus was on recognizing that a huge part of being a disciple is the exercise of leadership. Simply put, we are called to lead other men to live into a better story.
For me, the weekend was a guided conversation designed to remind each man there that the beautiful privilege of living in the light comes also with the responsibility to follow Jesus in such a way that other men are invited into the story.
There is not a man among us who does not know at least a handful of people who are standing on the edge of the crowd wondering about this Jesus, or who are maybe already walking away, or who have long since lost interest.
Wherever you find yourself in this journey along the road less often traveled by, there is always someone who would benefit from your encouragement, your care, or your invitation to walk with them along The Way. I’ve written this before, but it bears repeating: “Christianity at its best is a team sport”. We were created for community. It’s a challenging enough journey without insisting on doing it alone.
Out in the middle of Creation:
In addition to the men present, the setting itself was inspirational. Smith Mountain Lake provides a rich backdrop of beauty and serenity, and I found myself drawn to the lakeside on several occasions.
I have a story about that, but I’ll save it for tomorrow’s post. In the meanwhile, enjoy these images and think about your journey along The Way of Jesus – DEREK
So it is good to take pause when and where we can, and to understand this world from the perspective of mountains, where the long view is the only view that counts, and where even fires and storms have little to say about the future, a plan that is even wider and deeper than the Appalachians themselves.
Understatement of the millennia, Hebrew poet who penned The Creation Story; it should be more like “God checked out God’s creation work and – BAM! – it was beyond spectacular!”
If you enjoy photography then this is the post for you. Yesterday I featured our granddaughter’s fifth birthday (
Today’s post, however, is more about the experience of the museum itself than the exhibits. The architecture, the downtown setting, the way the exhibits are set up, the way the light plays – much more about the photography than the words.
The challenge of vacation – for the serious blogger – is the fact that there is simultaneously more to write about and less time to write; both more images to capture and less opportunity to share.
Joe handled Cheryl’s wheelchair like a pro, and we eased our way around carefully, trying to keep some of that vacation energy in reserve. We saved the Japanese Gardens for another visit, but everything else is pretty well documented in the slideshow below. You won’t want to miss the photographs.
As promised I’m wrapping the Bermuda cruise with one more post. This report covers some of the time we spent relaxing on board the ship.
I enjoy the languid pace of sea days. It was only a five-day cruise, but it’s easy to lose yourself in the easy pacing of life – a Bermuda Triangle of another sort, disappearing into the kind of twilight zone where you wake up in the middle of a Jimmy Buffet song.
Probably the best moments of this family gathering have been the spontaneous, unplanned, serendipitous, seemingly incidental encounters – like:
It is beautiful here, and quiet, and the pace is just right. I believe – to a certain extent – that this is exactly what God intends for us. God is pleased when we pause, and when we listen, and when we notice what is happening around us, and when we celebrate the wonder that is life, and newness, and promise, and when we live into the hope that defines us.
