Shiny Threads

The last five or six years of our journey have had some difficult spots. Places in time where we felt uncertain and wondered where on earth God was taking us? And now over the last year as God has been more rapidly revealing his plan, we have been able to not only see His current direction, but also the threads that He has been weaving our story with all along.

About 20 years ago Josh and I sketched out what we thought would be the ideal blueprint for a bed and breakfast. A design with a common living space, and wings built around a central courtyard. Fast-forward to a couple of months ago when our teammate sent us a link to the on-line rental listing she thought might be “the one”. It was for a beautiful house that included a homey central courtyard. A building style fairly common in a place that until last week neither of us had ever been before.

And there it was, like a shiny metallic thread woven in with all of the other colors of our story. A thread that had been there all along, but had to catch the light just right in order for us to see it. It is these shiny threads along with other affirmations we have received along the way that help us to keep saying yes and walk through the doors as He opens them.

Pictured below is the first house that will be home to the member care retreat center. The main house has three+ bedrooms, a large kitchen, and cozy living spaces. Around the courtyard are an outdoor kitchen, a laundry room, and space that is still being developed. At the center of the courtyard is room to relax and a growing garden.  

by Risa

The sign into the village where the center is located

The front of the house

The ground floor living room

The kitchen

Downstairs bathroom

Stairs between the three floors

Hallway between bedrooms

One of the three individual bedrooms

Upstairs bathroom

Attic living/bedroom

Views from the attic balcony of the courtyard, neighborhood, and surrounding countryside

In the courtyard

Holding The Container

When people ask me to explain the counseling process, I most often describe the Existential-Humanistic intervention of “holding the container”, which I learned from my friend and colleague Bob Edelstein. Counseling is the creation of a safe space within which a person can do their work. An integral part of this space is the counselor being an unwavering, unflappable presence. Clients feel free to truly be themselves, and no matter what they bring up in their process, they know their counselor can handle it.  This keeps the focus on the needs and experience of the client.

I think of a retreat center as being the same way – a safe and sacred space where guests can be themselves and feel free to examine their life and ministry with authenticity. For some, this may be a space to rest, relax, and enjoy what the area has to offer. For others, it may be a space for training, coaching, or counseling.  For all, it will be a space that provides opportunity to connect more deeply with God, and to experience the love and care of a community of believers. The focus will be on whatever God has brought them to the center to experience.

As things slowly start to take shape for our ministry, I think a lot about what it may look like to hold the container for God's global workers. I look forward to the unfolding of God’s plan with great anticipation, and feel honored that He has chosen us to be a part of it.

by Risa