The Retreat

Several years ago, we decided to have a retreat and invite people from all over the country.  We knew so many wonderful people and we wanted all of them to meet each other.

It was a huge success and people at the retreat said "let's do another one"!  

After the second one, people said let's do a third one.  I am not talking about one a year...I am talking 3 a year!  This became the norm....3 retreats a year.  One in the spring, one in the fall, and one in the winter.

For me, those retreats became the highlight of my year,  Many others said the same thing. Some said that the retreats got them through the rest of the year.  I felt the same.

We just had our fall retreat at Christian Acres Camp in Bluefield, West Virginia.  The date had been on the calendar for a long time, so we had no idea the upheaval we were facing.

We had about 50 people signed up.  They were coming from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio.  Quite a gathering!

The day came for us to drive to West Virginia.  There were torrential rains all the way to the camp.  Sometimes it was so dense we could barely see the road.  We made it though,  and after unloading everything it takes to have a retreat (a LOT) we settled in.  Thankfully the rain slacked a bit for us to unload.

We went a day early so we could get everything ready for the rest of the gang to come in on Friday.  We went to bed, happy to be settled in.

We got up Friday morning to not only heavy rain but heavy wind.  The trees were bending almost to the ground and as the day progressed, it only got worse.  Little did we know that we were getting the after effects of Hurricane Helene.  And boy were we getting those after effects! 

About 30 people made it to the camp, just in time for all the power to go out.  Robert and Ethan Harvey, spent just about the whole day clearing the road up to the camp where about 8 trees had fallen blocking the road.  Then they went to get gas for 2 generators so we could have electricity in the main meeting room.  Because of them, we were able to cook and to have music!

The dorms were pitch black though!  You couldn't see your hand in front of your face!  Once again, the Harvey family came through, with a box of flashlights!

We have had some wonderful retreats in the past few years...even during COVID when the hotel where we were scheduled, shut it's doors.  That didn't deter us!  We came to the Oaks manse in Knoxville and camped out in the yard and in the gym next door.

This year though, will go down in the history of the Oaks family as one of the best.  Right up there with the COVID retreat, and the Breaking Of My Hip retreat!  Somehow, adversity brings out the best in people!  It can also bring out the worst.  

As for the Oaks retreats, it seems that the more the challenge, the better the retreat.

Having said that though, we can skip the adversity next time Lord!