The Enemy Lurks
Don’t labor under the misunderstanding that as we escape everyday life to “retreat” that we are also escaping the enemy. In fact, you may encounter an enemy who is mad that his efforts to spoil your retreat were not successful. Expect to deal with the enemy’s shenanigans!
Want to hear some examples from our retreats?
- Of course, there are always equipment glitches that come up – the microphone doesn’t work, delaying a session; the recording does not record; the powerpoint doesn’t work; the electricity goes out–we’ve had all of those at one time or another;
- Traffic and/or weather issues to and from the retreat venue;
- Climate control in the venue;
- We have had two or three fire alarms late at night–what are the odds of that happening?
- In busy venues, where your meeting room is next to another, there is always the danger of noisy and distracting neighbors, or complaints about your music/noise. Often, our meeting room seems to be located near the hotel kitchen, where the hotel staff and the clanging of dishes can be a major distraction;
- One year (and this was classic) the hotel wine cabinet was located in our meeting room. Because of a wedding going on the same evening, hotel personnel were going in and out of our room all evening retrieving liquor bottles!
You can’t plan for it, but you can EXPECT the enemy to bring conflicts and complications to your retreat. Make it a matter of prayer throughout your retreat planning.
I never played in a band or an orchestra…but I do know that you need an orchestra to play a symphony. No one can whistle a symphony alone. A symphony is written for many different instruments. Some have small parts, others may have solos; sometimes the instruments play in unison with the others, sometimes they play their own separate and distinct part. There are times when certain instruments rest, while others come in at that particular time, as directed by the conductor. All are working in unity toward the same “goal”–that harmonious, beautiful and pleasing symphony. The conductor is the one who knows the entire musical score, and knows the end result that he wants to hear.