Relationships Retreat Reflections
Posted Jan 13, 2010 - 3:12 am by Elly Doef
(or “Sure-Guys-are-Waffles-and-Girls-are-Spaghetti-but-I-am-Still-Confused” Retreat)
This past week the students and staff of Mount Carmel took to the road and drove two and a half hours south to Deer Valley Meadows to partake in a one-week, condensed course called ‘Christian Relationships’. During the week we covered such topics as self-image, gender differences, dating, marriage, sexuality and a number of other topics that invariably arise when speaking about relating to those of the opposite gender. Though the students were required to attend the daily classes, there was plenty of time to enjoy a competitive game of floor hockey, a cup of hot chocolate by the fire, an inspiring game of Catch Phrase, or simply re-connect with friends after the break. Although we didn’t solve all the world’s relationship problems, we were able to dig deeply into our own assumptions about the other gender and turn our attention to how God desires us to relate with others.
During one of the days the boys and the girls split into separate groups and discussed things that were more specific to their own gender. While the girls met, we listened to a brief interlude and a song from Lauryn Hill’s newest album, “Unplugged”. One line from that song has been swimming in my head for the past few days: “The Conquering Lion will break every chain…give Him the victory again and again”. If I were to choose one over-arching theme of this past weekend, it would be that we are a broken and marred people that, in every way, need help from our Creator God. We have chained ourselves, or allowed ourselves to be chained, to lies about who we are and how we should relate to others. In that way, Lauryn Hill’s words are a good reminder of the reality of the God we serve. God is one that wants to heal, wants to point us towards right-relatedness, and wants us to see ourselves and He sees us-- lovingly and intentionally made in His image.
As we walk in this world we will face the question, “to whom we will give our allegiance: the cosmetic companies or Christ?” This past week we were encouraged by the reminder that Christ is calling us to allow Him to enter into our brokenness and heal all the places that have been damaged by hurtful relationships, false assumptions or negative self-images. May we all have the strength and perseverance to listen to the right voice this coming semester.
