“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG)
Jesus asks some great questions in this passage from Matthew. Have you ever taken stock of just how tired you are? Do you feel worn out or burned out on religion? Put another way, are you hungry for more than you’ve experienced of God at this point in your journey? If you can answer “yes,” it may be time to explore new ways of meeting with God through different spiritual practices. Throughout the ages, Christians have cultivated deeper intimacy with God by engaging in spiritual practices such as silence, solitude, fasting, and contemplative prayer, just to name a few. These practices help believers connect more intentionally with God, themselves, and others. Through spiritual practices, we can learn the unforced rhythms of grace as we abide in God’s love.
If you are hungry for more of God, the Intimacy Project may be for you. Through the Intimacy Project, you will find a place to learn the unforced rhythms of grace, to remember that God’s love for you is more than you could ever imagine, and to experience that love in safe community. The Intimacy Project was developed by Deb Turnow, a friend and fellow Spiritual Director based out of York, Pennsylvania. The project is an experiential journey consisting of five 2-day retreats over a nine month period. During each retreat, Deb Turnow and her co-facilitator will create the environment for participants to become more aware and attentive to the movement of God in the midst of their daily life. During each 2-day retreat there will be brief times of teaching, extended time in self-reflection and spiritual practices, and times of group processing. Last year I had the opportunity to participate in The Intimacy Project. I found the group process to be healing, inviting, and respectful. The teaching was insightful and the extended time in self-reflection and the spiritual practices were deeply transformative. I can highly recommend this opportunity to abide in God’s presence!
Deb will be bringing the Intimacy Project to a couple of locations outside of York, Pennsylvania this year. One of which will be here in Indianapolis at Sustainable Faith Indy. I will be working with Deb at this location as well as the one in Scottsdale, AZ. I hope you will consider joining us at either of these locations. Please click on the link below to learn more and to apply to be a part one of the upcoming Intimacy Project retreats.
https://www.kavannahouse.com/services/calendar/the-intimacy-project/the-intimacy-project.html
