UBC "Fall Retreat" #2

So at midnight we all met at the rock and discussed our experiences in the labyrinth. It was so awesome to hear the different experiences everyone had. A lot of people were impacted most by a different section of the journey than others... I think that's really cool... it really mirrors life.


So I stood up, said my name and how long I have been going to UBC. Then I told what impacted me most in the labyrinth. There was a station where we were told (in beautiful words that I will not attempt to recreate) to think of what is hurting us, what others have said or done to hurt us... and to write a word or draw some sort of a symbol (there was a notebook with a pen) the represented this. Then, we were to do the same for whatever we have said or done to hurt others.


I might add that as we go on this journey, as we do each section, someone else is probably doing the same thing beside us. Wherever there is one sheet of paper describing the station, there is a duplicate sheet of paper a few feet apart so my friend and I were doing each station at the same time.


Back to the station... so we were told that God forgives us for what we have said and done and that he forgives others for what they said and did to us. And that it's time for us to forgive others and for us to let go and forgive ourselves too. So, we were faced with a choice. We could take the paper with us or throw it away in the trash can that was at the station. I had no problem throwing it away. I really don't have much of any problem forgiving and forgetting. So, I crumbled mine up and threw it away. There was one thing on that paper I had not completely forgiven myself for and I was glad to have finally given it up, but it still wasn't difficult... I just needed it to be brought to my attention.


However, that is not the part of the station that impacted me. What really mattered is that my friend crumbled his paper before I did, but I had already started the next station before he threw his away. He held on to that crumbled up piece of paper for so long. He was having such a difficult time with it, but I moved on... I saw that he crumbled it up and I assumed that he was done with it, that he was fine. I think I do that in life... when a friend has a problem I help, but when they say "Yeah everything is ok now" I just take their word for it because when I get rid of something it really is over, I do it right then. But with them, they haven't even begun to truly let it go... and I already walked away. I should have helped him along the way, not continued on my own. I should do this in life... help, I mean. We aren't on this journey alone and it is NOT a race. The journey is probably best taken slowly so we can get the most out of it. The more people we help, the better... the more we can learn. I'm glad I learned so much on this journey too.


Hearing all the individual experiences really made me realize how God works in our lives... and how he works in mine. That is the story I told UBCers at the fall retreat and I thank each and every one who shared their story.