Saturday, October 30, 2010

Solitude Amidst Life

Earlier this month I completed my first half marathon. To attain this, I had chosen a definite training plan which coincided with the month in which the race would be run. To be completely honest, I had no idea whether my aging body was up for such a challenge, nor did I know if my mental or spiritual state would have any effect on the desired end result. Upon reflecting on this achievement, I reviewed the personal goals (KRA’s-key result areas) I had outlined in late 2009 to see how I was doing in other areas of my life. Only one had been sorely neglected, the practice of a monthly personal retreat day (PRD)—and in my life, well, one could easily rationalize that away.

In actuality, my daily life (at this life stage) could not accommodate such a practice, so I had written a clear, possibly achievable goal : “one four hour period of time away monthly from children, spouse, home or other distraction" to clearly evaluate my life in its varied aspects- spiritual life, ministry, family and relational life, fitness, well, you get the picture. I committed the desire to the Lord at my last personal retreat day and it didn’t happen again until this month-eleven months later.

So, all my hours of preparation for that half marathon could be considered personal retreat moments- but the desired result was unattained. This practice allows one to slow down, reflect, readjust priorities etc, before months disappear so that intentionality is woven throughout the tapestry of life and deliberate steps are taken in the everyday.

One month down, eleven to go. Intentionality has to be a “best practice” and a practice to be guarded amidst the busyness and noise of life.

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