How to Prepare for a Retreat?

I remember being mocked the first time I went on a personal spiritual retreat. Everyone thought it was hilarious that I brought what looked like my entire library. I was “the bag lady” from then on. I had a wonderfully glorious day despite all of the teasing! Thirty years later, I’m still the bag lady. I never know what I’m going to feel like doing during my retreat, so I bring it all.

Preparing for a Retreat

Over the last twenty-five years, I’ve come up with a checklist of how I prepare for a personal retreat. When I think about how I prepare for a retreat, I think there are several categories to consider:

Preparing to Leave Home

Part of being able to be mentally present while on retreat involves making sure everything at home is covered.

• “Out of office” turned on

• Tell people who need to know you’ll be out of reach

• Give the phone number of the retreat center to loved ones – so if you need to be contacted, people can reach you

• “To do” list – I like to empty my head of what I need to do when I return onto a piece of paper I leave in front of my computer (things I don’t want to forget). Then I can leave them and know I don’t have to worry about them — they’ll be there when I get home.

Preparing for Your Physical Comfort:

Some retreat centers are like hotels, some are more like rustic youth camps. If this is your first time at the center, plan for minimal creature comforts and then you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

• Chargers for electronic devices (I like to put my devices on airplane mode and turn off notifications, but I still want my phone charged so I can use the alarm, flashlight, and perhaps listen to music or read)

• Alarm clock

• Backpack chair (bug spray, walking shoes, comfortable clothes)

• Healthy snacks (almonds)

• Shampoo, conditioner, lotion (some retreat centers don’t provide toiletries, hair dryer)

• Pillow, foam mattress (sleeping in some beds can be a real challenge for me – with my own pillow and a 2” foam mattress which easily fits in my suitcase, I can sleep anywhere)

• Medication

• Heating/air conditioning can be a challenge. I bring warm and cool sleeping clothes so if the heater doesn’t work, I can bundle up; and if I can get the heater turned down, I can sleep like I’m in Hawaii.

• Bedside fan

• Comfortable clothes, sweat shirt/sweater, jacket

• Bottled water

• Backpack/book bag/old journals/pads of paper/pens — like I said, I’m the bag lady

• Art Supplies (sometimes I bring supplies so I can do an art collage, or watercolor, or calligraphy)

• Books (I go through my shelves and prayerfully look at the titles and notice what I’m drawn to. I don’t plan to work on a Bible Study, but I like to read on retreat

• Bible

• Playlist (you may want to create one from your favorite worship music)

• Cash

Preparing your Heart

As you drive to the retreat center, begin to prepare your heart:

I like to leave more than enough time, so I’m not stressed the whole time I’m driving there. I print a map in case I lose internet connection, and have the retreat center’s emergency phone number handy. I like to stop at a Starbucks and enjoy a treat.

Breathe – intentionally slow the pace of your breathing

Listen to your worship playlist for this retreat. Enjoy music or listen to a book.

Once you are checked in, let your family know you arrived safely. Then spend a few hours helping your heart to settle into the slower rhythms of retreat. Ideally you want your mind to be free of distractions and present at the retreat, but this can take some time:

Go for a walk and enjoy nature, especially noticing the tiniest creatures and flowers. Don’t analyze but simply take in their loveliness.

Make a bulleted list of whatever is going around in your head. And continue to add to it. Your brain will keep bringing things to mind so you don’t forget them. If you put it on a list, you can assure yourself you won’t forget about it. That can really help you settle in.

Ask yourself: What am I bringing to this retreat? What concerns am I carrying? (List them. You may want to bring some of these concerns to the Lord during your retreat, or you may want to set them down for now.)

Notice if there is a question on your heart you are seeking direction about. (Ask the Lord to use all of the various parts of your retreat: the Scripture, worship, prayer, books, nature, journaling) to give you wisdom on that particular question.

Preparing for Your Time with the Lord

What would you love to see the Lord do during your time on retreat? (Would you like him to draw you close, give you rest for your soul, help you to process grief?) You might offer this desire to the Lord in prayer.

You may want to select some passages of Scripture, written prayers, or worship music that will form the structure of your time away and help focus your retreat. This can be a loose plan, but something to give a little structure to your retreat.

I believe that I have been most changed during my time on retreat because it has been during these days away I have come to know the Lord’s love. I’ve had the chance to taste and see the Lord is good and reflect on his goodness in my life.

Retreats aren’t intended to be a spiritual vacation where we escape from our usual routines simply to get away. Spiritual retreats are for the purpose of forming us to be more like Jesus. This always begins with the foundation truth that God loves us. So if you don’t know where to begin, may I suggest that you begin with the love of God—his love for you specifically? Once you have that mastered, then you can move on to more lofty heights. For most of us, plumbing the depth of his love and grace will take an eternity.

Would you like to be led on a personal, spiritual retreat? Go to NEWIM’s website and see if The Springs’ retreat would be right for you. Read more at: https:www.newim.org/retreat-overview.