Well I back from our annual Fall ReCharge. We call it a ReCharge cause Real men don’t retreat!! Now you see how I got the title to this blog.
I’m intensely tired and intensely pumped. It’s a weird feeling. I feel like a sponge that has been wrung out, but at the same time I am feeling filled to the max. I guess it has to do with the whole spirit filled, intensely male, getting down to brass tacks, share till you drop, weekend.
I think what it is may be this: all my worries, troubles and burdens have been laid down (probably for only a short time, I told you I’m stubborn) and I have picked up the joy of the Lord. I know, really know that God loves me. I’m sure this will fade with time, as I begin to have doubts again. But for now I am at PEACE!
After last year’s ReCharge, I felt similar. But this year was more intense. We had guys coming back from last year, and who were involved in the year’s study that went on between. And seeing them intently listening and participating, and hearing their testimonies about what this has done for them. WOW
This year was also special as I lead one of the sessions. I haven’t done that for a while and I have been feeling God’s nudges to start doing it again. I was terrified and exhilarated at the same time. As I said I have not done this for a while. Oh not talk in front of guys I’ve done that lots. No to teach, to inspire, to stir up conversation with my words. It was fantastic. And it really did stir up a lot of conversation. I know for next year we need to schedule more time for the guys to talk in the small groups and then more time to talk in the large group debrief after.
These guys are onboard, and the ones who didn’t come last year, our new guys. They experienced the high level of enthusiasm that was running rampant through the whole weekend.
It was great to see all these guys opening up to each other. The jokes and playful jabs that were flying freely, felt great and guys took them as they were meant. In fun!
Even more fun was to be had, at least by me, with the table games. Every meal we decide which table goes first, second third and fourth by games. They are based on the “minute to win it” TV show games. I usually have two that are really funny and two that are skill based. This year’s games did not disappoint! LOL
Guys having fun, guys playing as boys joking, laughing, guys sharing deeply with each other. At a level that they may never have shared before. I’ll tell you I didn’t want to leave on Sunday to come back.
But come back I did, and when I got home I realized how much I missed my wife and daughters company.
Tired, spiritually drained and refilled many times, happy to be home.
But I know it will fade. Maybe not as fast as last year. I’m part of too many groups of guys. The same guys that came for the weekend. We will talk about and relive some of the time we were there. We will help keep each other in that place of Joy of the Lord for as long as we can.
But fade it will, unless I can once and for all cast off the old new, and begin to live as the new me created in Christ. The new me that God sees and calls “beloved son”, the new me that God is never disappointed in. The new me that is all about Him and what He is doing in my life. There is always hope that as a real man I don’t retreat!
