Stay Alert

I leave later this morning for my weekend retreat and I'm enjoying the peace and solititude before the busyness begins. It's about a 4  & 1/2 hour car ride with stops. I really don't mind driving as it gives me time to reflect and pray or listen to music and podcasts. I'm leaving a day early because I'm staying with a friend and this way I'm not traveling and jumping right into the weekend. I can have a slow start tomorrow morning and take my time setting up.

I love the many layers of these events. I enjoy prepping and event-planning.

Of course, as with any sort of event-planning, no matter how organized I am there is always something that goes awry. Someone doesn't read all the information or there is a snafu thrown into the mix. But for the most part, I'm prepared and am praying that it's a good weekend. The main thing I'm praying is that God would help me keep my eyes and ears open and that I would be able to listen well to others so that I can speak His words to them.

I'm staying an extra day because I'm generally exhausted after the busy weekend and hate driving when I'm tired. But this way I'm also getting a chance to stop at my favorite fabric store on the way home. It's owned by a Mennonite woman and I used to stop in there all the time when we lived in that part of the state.

The interesting thing is that the last time I was there I was chatting with her and she shared some hard things with me and I was able to encourage and pray for her. It was definitely a God-moment and not one I was expecting. 

It was another reminder to me to stay alert for those small moments to encourage another person. You never know when you will have an opportunity to shine the light of Christ.