Retreat to Return: Why Stepping Away Brings Us Closer
Every so often, something deep within us whispers, “Step back… just for a moment.” It's not about escape. It's about remembering.
Last week, I had the privilege of attending a post-Easter ministers' retreat that was nothing short of incredible. It was hosted by none other than the wise and wonderful Rev. Dr. Martha Creek. Being in that sacred space, surrounded by fellow spiritual leaders, allowing ourselves to breathe, reflect, and renew—was a profound gift. And the blessings didn't stop there.
The very next day, the women of Unity of Louisville gathered for their own retreat—an intentional, heart-opening experience led with love and care. The laughter, the tears, the community—all of it was a sacred echo of what it means to come home to ourselves. And next week, the men of our community will gather for their turn to pause, connect, and deepen.
Which brings us to a deeper question: Why are retreats so important for a spiritual community?
In our day-to-day lives, it's easy to get swept up in the “doing.” Even in our churches, where the mission is rooted in love, the tasks can sometimes cloud the truth of why we gather in the first place. Retreats break that pattern. They offer what no Sunday morning quite can: spaciousness. Not just physical space, but emotional and spiritual room to breathe.
A retreat is not a break from spiritual life—it is spiritual life. It's a way of tuning in to the sacred whisper that lives beneath the surface. It allows us to slow down enough to hear the guidance that's always been there. As Charles Fillmore once wrote, “When we withdraw from the outside world and silence the clamor of our senses, the still small voice will speak to us, and we will know the truth.”
Retreats allow that voice to rise to the surface. They allow us to take off our masks, be vulnerable, be real. To speak our doubts and hopes aloud. To laugh around a fire or cry during meditation and know we're not alone. In those moments, the walls between us fall, and what's left is the kind of connection that transforms a church into a true spiritual family.
But here's the real beauty: we don't go on retreat just for ourselves. We retreat so that we may return. We return softer. We return clearer. We return carrying a light that helps illuminate the path, not just for ourselves, but for those we
serve and love.
This season of retreats—ministerial, women's, men's—isn't about getting away. It's about coming back. Coming back to what matters. Coming back to the community. Coming back to ourselves and the indwelling Presence we sometimes forget in the rush of daily life. We don't retreat because we're lost.
We retreat because we've been found—and want to live from that place more fully. So if you've never attended a retreat—or if it's been a while—I invite you to listen to the nudge. The one that says: “It's time.” You don't have to show up perfect. Just show up open. Because when we step away together, we rise together. And when we return, we carry more light for the road ahead.
Join us this Sunday as our own Rev. Gerry Boylan shares his talk, “Compassion: Living with an Open Heart”.
See you on the path, Rev. Bobby