By this time tomorrow, we'll have been on the road a bit of time. We're hoping to leave by 5, since we both have to be at work on Monday. I do find myself wishing that we could have gotten here early and that we could stay until after the closing service tomorrow. Maybe next year.
The first day was wonderful. A lot of folks expressed concern that I didn't have a chance to do much, that I was always taking pictures. But I love walking around and taking pictures. I love seeing what others are doing.
I don't point this out, but I've been going to this retreat for a very long time. I've had a chance to experiment with many of the techniques we're offering. And then there's the fact that I'd be left with the thing I created.
But the larger truth is that I love taking the pictures--I would prefer to do that. If I wanted to sit in on a workshop or a drop in station, I would.
We also have a huge crowd this year. I don't want to take up a seat that a new person might have wanted.
We had a great first day: Bible study, worship planning, workshops, drop-in stations, worship service, lots of great chances to talk. We have had amazing food, including some apple butter that had been cooking in a crock pot all day--on warm biscuits!
My mom and dad are here this year, which is a great treat. Lots of us bring family members, which I think is a wonderful tribute to how meaningful the retreat can be.
Here's an intriguing nugget of information I got: Luther Seminary is fully funding all students, including the online students. Could I do seminary and stay employed? I know that I could--I really have other questions, which I'll ponder at a later point. They are the larger questions about what I want to do with the second part of my life.
I've always said that one of the biggest barriers to seminary is the debt I would incur. If there's no debt, how does that change how I look at seminary? I will do more thinking about that in the days to come.
I've had so many good conversations here. I miss having good conversations about larger issues.
This retreat seems like a metaphor for so many things. I'll leave with this Facebook post I made yesterday: "Overheard at the Create in Me Retreat: "I thought I was making a pear, but maybe I'm making an apple." I'm willing to bet that this idea sums up many aspects of life for most of us."
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