healing in the stillness

After a long bath, a big meal, a longer nap, and a big mug of green tea, I think I'm nearly human again. What a trip!

I'm proud of us. Getting there late, thanks to Steph's mixup of N & S (10.30 pm) and unable to stumble upon our planned destination, we found this remote little joint called Liliwaup Creek and randomly picked a campsite. Dang, we're good. In the dark, we picked this great site right on the river... imagine our surprise and great delight when we also found out that this was a FREE campground (I never imagined anything on earth was still free...)

Granted, the grounds were also free of running water, electricity and flushing toilets... I can truly say we roughed it. I can also truly say that there is nothing like washing your hair in icy cold river water. Brain freeze from the outside is an amazing phenomenon!

I'll share more of the fun details of the trip when I have the pictures to go with. I took most of my pics on Jules' camera because hers was cooler. Great hiking, great bridge jumping (Aaron), great rock jumping (me and Steph)... all I can say is, we are SO hard core. And the pics to prove it...

For now, this TM-ish thought: There is healing and restoration to be found in silence, if we have the courage to let go of our compulsive need to fill every moment with noise and activity.

I had forgotten the benefit of just a few days of truly retreating. Not youth retreat retreating, but real retreating. It's really a waste that I don't do it more. This gorgeous place in the middle of the Olympic rainforest is only an hour and a half from my apartment. And there are a million other places just like it here. I forget how necessary it is to let yourself be still... away from the TV and the radio and the hectic schedule. My body is tired and sore from all the hiking I did, and from the early mornings... but my mind is so clear and rested. One look in the mirror was evidence... stress was eased from my heart on this trip. (It was also evidence of how crazy I look after camping, but that's a whole other thing)

We were pretty laid back for the most part. Mornings consisted of hot chocolate and breakfast, and then each person to their own time with God. It wasn't planned that way... we hadn't plotted out how to make this a super-spiritual retreat... it just happened. Each person just took time to be. It's fun to be with friends who are okay with silence. Everyone pulled out their book or their journal and took some time. I found a comfy spot where some logs had fallen over the creek... I read some Thomas Merton and wrote for a while and just let the water's music refresh me. Later, Tawny and I pulled out our guitars and we all worshiped together. It was a beautiful time. How can you not worship in the midst of a masterpiece God has created? In the sunshine, it was gorgeous. In the fog and rain, perhaps even more so. (Which is good, because it rained yesterday and POURED this morning...) In the afternoons we hiked. At night, we played games, laughed and talked until we were too tired to move from our chairs to our sleeping bags. It was great.

I just thoroughly enjoyed myself, my friends, and my God this weekend. And came back refreshed in my heart and ready as I can be for what I know is going to be a long week ahead.

*****

Also, just found out a bit ago (thank you M...what a great surprise!) that an article I sent in to Relevant was published in their online magazine...

It was really just the smallest of things, it's not like I got a book accepted or something, but it was just a little step of faith for me to put something out there, come what may, rather than just talking about maybe doing it someday.

I have no idea why God is so good to this girl, but I'm just grateful.

By the way, those of you who continue to visit this little piece of my life, thank you. It's such a little thing, this collection of words and thoughts... but it means a lot to me that anyone would take the time to read them, much less to share their thoughts in return. So thanks.