When I was a teen I was part of a small youth group in my church. We used to rent houses and go on youth retreats a couple times a year. Sometimes they were in the mountains and sometimes they were at the beach. I loved these retreats. My life is a lot like that now that I am all grown up. Here are some ways that my life is like a youth retreat:
Comfortable, ugly living room furniture
Meals at 7:30, noon and 6:00 with a snack at 2:30 (be there or miss out)
Lots of scrambled eggs, pancakes, soup and salad served on mismatched plates
Always surrounded by young people (with Leon and I and 10 children)
Each one does his assigned chore after every meal
Meet for bible study every day at 8:30 on the living room couches and floor
Nightly group meetings from 7-9pm
Attendance required at all meetings
Lots of bonfires (before leaving Idaho)
People getting grumpy, emotional and hurting each other. Then the dreaded, "can we talk?" (my brother Kevin hated this most of all)
Quiet time in a special spot alone every day for journalling, nap or bible
Free time at nearby park or at the house for a couple specified hours every afternoon
Surroundings have an element of unfamiliarity
Feeling of being with brothers and sisters but protected with guidance and leadership
Answering hard questions during group meetings
Lots of girl talk about boys and babies
Laying in bed whispering at night
Coming from different family and religious backgrounds
No phone calls or TV-- leaving these out makes others seem like they are constantly available
Singing together
Sweatshirts
It's rough when one or all of us don't feel like participating. When we wake up in the morning and want to stay in bed and be selfish. We get up instead and pass our gloom on to others. It's like a youth retreat then too. Sometimes it's pretty rough but it's the life that God has given me and I am thankful.
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