It was supposed to be a delightful pastoral staff retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains. For several years, our pastoral staff had spent four or five days together in early Autumn to bond together and spiritually renew our souls for the task of leading the church. More than once we had rented a mountain retreat house, cooked most of our own meals, enjoyed camaraderie outside the daily grind, and personal time with God. Our espirit de corps was strengthened as the mind relaxed. But in the Fall of 2012 our trip included a scene more reminiscent of a Tom Hanks nightmare than a refreshing retreat– especially for one special castaway and his comrades.
Tag Archives: forgiveness
UNCLOG YOUR DRAIN
Letting go of the past is not easy. Being forgiven for our mistakes and being washed clean from sin is one thing, but getting rid of the messy stink of the past is another thing altogether. We are aware that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin, and that those sins were atoned for on the cross, but getting over the feeling of guilt, and shame, and hurt, is easier said than done. Sometimes it feels like there’s just too much stuff to dispose of, and that eventually God’s going to say, “Enough! I can’t take any more of your junk!” It’s like our spiritual drain gets clogged and stuff starts to back up. “Pray harder,” they tell us. Or, “You just have to bear the consequences. You got yourself into this mess; you’ll have to deal with it.”
What do you do when your spiritual drain gets clogged? When there’s just too much to deal with?
