Retreat!!!

To many, the word isn’t thought of positively, a sort of admission of failure or something. Retreating is something soldiers do when they’re getting whipped, the thinking goes.

Like that scene in the movie Gettysburg when the Union army has far outgunned the Confederates, and the ragtag unit of misfit soldiers runs for their lives in full retreat, leaving their guns behind them, racing past General Lee and ignoring his orders to stop.

I recall sitting under one minister in years gone by who refused to call a men’s or women’s or teen retreat a “retreat.” He insisted calling it an “advance” instead. Sigh.

But yes, retreat can be bad. But not necessarily so.          

An army can retreat to regroup, resupply, and re-arm, and then renew an attack with greater vigor from a stronger, more unified position.

Or a retreat can be strategic, drawing the enemy out so another unit can attack from the flank. Remember the account of Joshua’s battle with Ai? The apparent retreat was part of the strategy that ensured victory.

Or a quarterback can retreat from the pocket when he’s about to get sacked, buy himself a few seconds of time allowing his receivers to get open, and then throw a pass for a first down.

So a retreat can be a good thing.

As I write, my wife and I are on a strategic retreat. We’re taking advantage of off-season rates at a place in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Yes, we take a break in the afternoon to get in some hiking—very cold hiking!—but we have an agenda.

Interestingly, even the break from planning, etc. has afforded some refreshment, encouragement, and direction in a most unexpected form—well-placed rocks along the Lake Geneva Trail:

We try to take one of these retreats at the beginning of each year—get away for a couple of days, shut out a lot of the everyday distractions that so easily scatter energies and divide focus.

The retreat allows for a bit of extra rest after the busy holiday season, but also so much more.

We have the opportunity to reflect on where things are in our personal and work lives…and where it’s all headed. The undistracted hours allow us to think things through more thoroughly, address problems, discuss potential solutions.

We also look at the calendar for the year, discuss priorities, and schedule them. Taking the time to look at the big picture like this gives the opportunity to notice seasons that will be particularly busy, allowing us to plan better and compensate for the busyness by scheduling extra downtime.

I’m not much on New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in establishing annual goals. As the year starts to wind down, usually in early December, I begin thinking about the next year’s goals. Usually by year’s end, I’ve got a fairly good notion of some things I want to work on or accomplish in the next twelve months.

On the retreat, I invest some time in the goal-setting process, thinking through each one. First, I’ll write down in very concrete language what the goal is, including a deadline. For example,

“I will read 2 books each month for a total of 24 books by December 31.”

The next step is to consider why I’m pursuing this goal. Without a clear and powerfully motivating “why,” the pursuit will fizzle rather quickly.

After jotting down some concrete motivations for the goal, I need to write out some first or next steps. To read 24 books this year, I should first compile a “to-be-read” list—at least get a good start if I don’t already have a shelf or two of volumes waiting for me. Then perhaps select the first two or three. Another step here would be to establish a general schedule—when will I invest some time reading.

You get the idea.

Over the past few years, I’ve found this annual retreat to be quite valuable—I suffer for it when we don’t get the opportunity. It’s so helpful to be able to focus on the big picture.

But the annual retreat always reminds me that I really need to schedule a “retreat day” once a quarter. To be honest, it hasn’t happened—yet. The old adage proves true—if you don’t schedule it, it won’t get done! One thing I need to do in the hours that remain in this retreat is to schedule the next three one-day retreats in 2024.

The value of a quarterly retreat, of course, is to engage in some evaluation…reflection…refocus…recharging of the batteries….

And I’m reminded of the need for some daily “retreat” time. This is already a consistent part of my routine. I take the first hour or so every morning to orient myself for the coming day. I read Scripture, pray, meditate on what I’ve read, and plan the day. Don’t know what I’d do without this time.

For some general direction and motivation in all of this “retreating,” I look to Paul’s personal testimony as well as the exhortation given to his protégé, Timothy. He challenged the younger minister to make progress in his life and ministry:

Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. – 1 Timothy 4:15

A few years later, just before his death, Paul encourages Timothy to “fulfill your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:5). That takes some diligent effort, forethought, and planning!

As for himself, Paul testified that he put forth great effort in striving to accomplish much in the fulfillment of his vocation:

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 2:12-14.

And again, at the close of his earthly pilgrimage, Paul was able to say,

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race….” (2 Timothy 4:7).

I’d like to be able to say the same thing someday.

So my advice, in all your charging forward in life, be sure to retreat from time to time!