Sometimes you Need a Hard Reset

Dan and I got back on Wednesday afternoon from three days away at our district prayer conference. Every other year it is a business conference and then the opposite year is a retreat. This is for pastors in our district and this was a retreat year and took place at a YMCA campground in the middle of our state.

I am so thankful that we went together this year. The main theme of the weekend was long-term sustainability in our ministry and how to weave some soul-care in there. The pastorate is a strange job and without trying to be melodramatic, can wreak havoc on your life. If you don't have some level of self-awareness and have some tools to help you through, it can tear apart your life and your family's life. 

There was a workshop one afternoon on how to sustain ministry for the long-haul. I had planned on going to it when the thought occurred to me that it was probably for the younger ministry couples in the room because Dan and I have been at this for 35 years! In fact, we were a few of the older ones at the retreat. When did that happen?

It's been a tough winter as we continue in ministry, deal with Dan's parents, and have a number of other stressors in our life. I feel like we've been snapping at each other a lot lately and by "we" I really mean "I've been snapping at Dan." We hardly ever have any time by ourselves either.

So it was wonderful to spend those three days with just the two of us. We talked all the way there and all the way home. We got to go for walks together. There was extended free time one day and we went to a local museum I've always wanted to go to (Corning Museum of Glass) and ended up spending over 4 hours there. We also got to spend time with other ministry friends we only see once or twice a year. 

I feel like the retreat was pushing the reset button on our ministry, our marriage and my spirit. I've come back feeling rejuvenated, encouraged and feeling closer to my husband. 

It is good!