Retreat Reflections
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Retreat Reflections
Last weekend I attended Camp of the Woods' annual men's retreat, and I thought I'd share a few thoughts from the retreat that are related to parenting and mentoring.
They Named Names
There was a men's panel on Saturday morning that included:
Jim Zorn: former NFL quarterback and coach
Mickey Weston: former MLB player and current White Sox chaplain
Ted Barrett: former MLB umpire for almost 30 years
Frank Turek: author, speaker, and Christian apologist
Tim Trezise: director of LIFT, Camp of the Woods' gap year program
When sharing their testimony and life journey, each of these Christian leaders named a specific man who had individually mentored/discipled them. It hadn't been part of the question, but they couldn't share their story without mentioning these men.
Who can YOU intentionally invest in? As these men prove, it might change the course of someone's life!
If you're a parent, what can you do now to facilitate healthy mentoring/discipling relationships in your child's life?
Two Men, the Same Regret
When the men's panel was asked about their biggest regrets, Tim Trezise said he "would have been more intentional about having deeper spiritual conversations" with his kids. He explained how he often came home tired at night, and he missed opportunities. He challenged the men, "Have those conversations. They are hungry for answers. They want to hear it from dad."
Frank Turek answered very similarly, and he also used the word "intentional." He added this reminder: "You're not bringing up kids; you're bringing up men and women. Future men and women."
Whether you're a parent or not, are you intentional about trying to have deep spiritual conversations with teens in your life? Are there any conversations you should have with someone but have been avoiding?
How does it shift your perspective when you realize you're bringing up men and women, not bringing up kids?
Justin and Lucas
The youngest attendee was Justin's son Lucas, who I'd guess was 10-11 years old. I spoke with Justin, and he said Lucas was having an amazing experience. While parts of the messages were probably over his head, this 10-11 year old spent an entire weekend surrounded by hundreds of Christian men (including his dad) who gathered together to hear the Word (including at 6:30am both mornings!), praise God through music, enjoy fellowship, and experience creation in the Adirondacks in the fall.
Lucas may forget most or all the words that were spoken, but I'm confident it was an experience that will leave a lasting impression on him in his own spiritual journey!
What can you do to provide experiences for preteens/teens like Lucas? To what events can you invite/bring them (one-time or regularly) where they will be surrounded by Christians older than them (including you) who they can observe, learn from, and be encouraged by?
A Shameless Plug...
For more info on Camp of the Woods' summer programming or numerous off-season retreats, click here. They're always very well done. Let me know if you or a man you know are interested in the men's retreat next fall!