"In the spiritual life, the word discipline means 'the effort to create some space in which God can act.' Discipline means to prevent everything in your life from being filled up. Discipline means that somewhere you're not occupied, and certainly not preoccupied. In the spiritual life, discipline means to create that space in which something can happen that you hadn't planned or counted on."
– Henri Nouwen
I often joke [by telling the truth] that Kara discourages me from using the words "I'm excited" when I speak, because my face and gestures are completely unconvincing. That very well may be true, but sometimes I still have to use the word, and perhaps I can convey that excitement a bit more effectively by writing about it here than by telling you about it face-to-face.
Regardless of whether I can do so or not, the fact is that Kara and I are both thrilled about something coming soon to the Permian Basin. She and I have both been impacted deeply in retreat settings, and it is one of the ways in which we most enjoy finding some open space for God in our lives and helping others to do so, but the locations for retreats are pretty limited in our area. We are very grateful, though, to now be connected with a group of folks who have been working to provide such a place, and to see it become a reality.
The Way Retreat Center will be in northeast Midland, and will break ground in the summer of 2016. Kara is serving on the advisory board as plans continue, and we have both been able to be in on some of the conversations regarding the kind of space that is being created–and we are both thoroughly, excitedly, impressed by this and grateful for it.
"When there is no time to do it, that’s when you most need to unclutter the calendar and go apart to pray. When the gridlock in your schedule relentlessly forbids it is the time you most need retreat. That is when your heart beats against the prison walls of your enslavement and says, 'Yes, Lord, I want to spend time with you.'"
– Emilie Griffin
You can get a glimpse of what kind of place The Way will be through their website. You can see drawings of the plans, pictures and video of the location, and get a feel for the kind of place being created in order to give opportunities for people to encounter God. I hope that you will join our excitement.
Particularly if you are in west Texas, it would be a great help for you to consider showing support for this by making a donation and/or joining their email list.