Women’s retreat recap
By Mackenzie Byersdorf
Just over a week ago, twenty women from our church community spent the weekend at a beautiful Swiss Chalet in Cle Elum for our first ever women’s retreat. We had architects, baristas, students, moms, teachers, just to name a few — an incredible mix of incredible women who were ready to rest, have fun, and learn more about Jesus together.
What struck me almost immediately, and stayed with me so strongly that I’m still talking about it now, is how wonderfully simple the weekend was. In the best way possible, there wasn’t a lot of “extra” stuff. (Though we did have wifi, it feels important to note.) We ate, we listened to God’s Word, we worshipped, we prayed for each other. We hiked, did some crafting, and some of the bravest ladies jumped in the nearby river. I think the only thing that wasn’t simple was the variety of our menu, with options for vegans, vegetarians, and people who needed gluten and/or dairy free. Major props to the gals in the kitchen! 🙂 It was a refreshingly simple weekend — and man, did God’s Spirit move mightily amongst us.
We complicate things sometimes, don’t we? I know I do. I make spiritual growth, “being in community,” and even spending time with Jesus out to be so much more complicated than it needs to be. I think I’m prone to believing that “new”, “exciting”, and “more” are somehow more meaningful than the simple, the worn-in, the “been done before” ways of the faith and friendship.
At the women’s retreat, most of what we did was simple and “been done before.” Emily Whitten did an incredible job teaching, sharing the rest we find in coming away with Jesus, letting Him know us and search our hearts. We worshipped with just a guitar, the voices of the women sitting next to us filling the living room as we sang. We listened to each other, and we were moved with compassion to pray for each other with boldness. We revealed our weaknesses to one another, and opened ourselves for the kinds of friendship that draws us closer to the arms of the Father.
And in these everyday, simple, “been done before” actions, God revealed Himself to us.
On our last night, we worshipped together after a time of praying for one another. There was such a sweetness in the room, it was like you could see it in the air. There was a sense that God was doing something deep, something fresh, but also something that He’s always done; fixing our eyes on Him, bringing healing and freedom, speaking truth and love, binding us together as women who want to love those around us as His Spirit empowers us.
After our weekend away, we didn’t take home a catchphrase, or a 10-step process; we left the retreat having experienced God’s love, having heard the Gospel, and with a growing desire to share Jesus with the people in our lives. I learned during this weekend that we don’t have to complicate knowing Jesus or growing in community – mostly we just need to show up with a tender heart. God figures out a way to take care of the rest.