New Year Retreat

by Paul Gallagher

As you read these words, I’ll be finishing up a retreat at a friend’s retreat center, not too far from my house. Several years ago, my friend and her husband took a bold leap of faith and purchased a large piece of land and built a place of refuge. It’s small and can only handle about 20 people, but it provides a wonderful place to rest, pray, and listen to God.

I don’t know about you, but I am very grateful for the start of the new year. The year 2011 hasn’t been one of my best. In fact, I’m glad it’s over and am ready for a fresh start. I want to go into 2012 with a joyous expectation of things to come.

I’m making my little retreat because I wanted to pray about my plans for the upcoming year and discern as best I can how they mesh with the Lord’s plans for me. There are several areas of my life where I need to get back on track. Sound familiar? (If you want to learn more about how I spend my retreat time, visit my blog, www.makingallthingsnew.com.)

When I spoke to a couple of friends about my plan, they asked if they could join me and make their own retreat. I don’t expect we’ll spend much time together. We all want to focus on what the Lord is asking of us individually in 2012.

I know it might not be possible to get away for a retreat at this point, but I would encourage you to find some time in the next week or so and be quiet with the Lord. Lay your plans for 2012 before God, and listen. Maybe God will put some other ideas on your heart and take you to places you hadn’t thought about. Wouldn’t that be exciting?

I’ll be praying for you while I’m on retreat. For many of us, our roles in the parish are evolving and we have to adapt on a daily basis. It’s not easy, that’s for sure, but at the same time, God is so good to allow us to serve in the ways that we do. My prayer is that you and your loved ones receive countless blessings throughout the new year, and that you are strengthened by God each and every day. Happy New Year!

Written by :

Paul Gallagher