So you’ve treated yourself to a Retreat in a Box, what now?
Let’s say you have chosen the Live in Love Retreat in a Box, or perhaps you have been gifted one, and it arrives through your letter box. You open the box with delight, and sift through the various goodies within, but just how do you turn the contents into an actual retreat?
Firstly, be intentional. Pause. Wait, just a while. You may feel the desire to dive straight into the tasty treats and tear open the packaging on the pocket sized gift, but I promise you, you will be doubly blessed if you wait until everything else is in place first.
Space
Consider where you want your retreat to take place. If you are feeling adventurous and have the means to do so, why not take yourself away for a few days? There are three meditations so you could book yourself into a retreat house for a few days and spread the meditations out, one each day, or perhaps just a day visit with a meditation morning, lunchtime, and afternoon? The National Trust has just announced that its libraries will be open to the public, so why not visit your local one where you will have the benefit of beautiful grounds and a tea room to boot. Just make sure to take your headphones if you plan to listen to the meditations. The Quiet Garden Movement provides perfect venues to take a spiritual break away from everything else. You can find them across the world, and each one is unique. Quiet Gardens run on donation so are affordable to everyone. If you are blessed with a camper van you could take your retreat literally anywhere. Alternatively create a sacred space at home: it could be your bedroom, a cosy chair by the window where the sun will fall upon you, a garden shed… somewhere you are least likely to be disturbed.
Time
Life is busy. The busier life is the more important it is to take time to pause, to rest, to become aware of God’s loving and nurturing presence. So when will you indulge in your Retreat in a Box? Maybe you need to take a day off work, place boundaries around the school day when the children won’t be around to interrupt, strike through a Saturday in your diary, do a deal with a partner or friend to safeguard space for each other and take on each other’s caring responsibilities in turn. Or perhaps arrive at work early when the office will be quiet, or find a local open church during your lunch break and spread the retreat out over a week.
Set the Scene
Once you have found your time and space make yourself comfy. Prepare to rest. Put the kettle on and select a drink, light your candle, switch off your phone, lock the door, wrap yourself in a blanket… It would be helpful to have a Bible to hand. Perhaps plan a lunch that is easy, or something special that will be a real treat. Now you are ready to begin.
Open the Box
Inside your Live in Love Retreat in a Box you will find a Journal and Pencil, these are for you to jot down any thoughts you may have, to doodle, sketch, write… To begin with turn to the meditation booklet, choose whether to read through the meditations, or watch them on YouTube, or both. Then take some time to reflect, go for a walk, take a nap….. The meditation booklet gives suggestions for how to spend your time in between each meditation, and in the box you will find a reflection card to accompany each meditation, a copy of God’s Love Letter, and a mindfulness craft activity to keep your fingers busy whilst your mind dwells. When you feel ready to move on, return to your booklet and repeat with the second meditation, and then the third. At the end of your retreat reflect on the time you have spent with God, and finish with the closing prayer sheet; and then, if you have waited this far, open your handcrafted gift for your home (or your pocket) as a reminder of your retreat time.
Couples Retreat?
Live in Love is not a romantic retreat. It isn’t designed to enhance your marriage or partnership. It is however an alternative way to spend Valentines or any date night for those who want to come closer to God, or indeed siblings, prayer partners, or friends.
A couples Retreat in a Box contains all the usual goodies, but with double the journal and pencil, mindfulness activity/craft, drinks and tasty treats.
Live in Love Retreat in a Box £20
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