Men4Directions

This past Thursday evening through Saturday afternoon I attended my first Men4Directions retreat

in the middle of PA at Krislund Camp & Conference Center.  This is a year long program of Oasis Ministries intended to help men grow in faith, self-awareness and spiritual wholeness. The program includes small group community, quarterly retreats and sol-time in the wilderness to engage with Spirit and Soul. Joel Blunk is our leader and spiritual director on this journey. There 

 are six of us who are part of this years journey. The location is in a beautiful setting in the middle of the mountains of PA. We gathered at Fellowship Lodge and I slept out on the porch each night. It was wonderful to fall asleep looking at the moon shining on me through the trees.  We spend time inside and outside. In silence and talking together as we reflect on our lives and our own spiritual and personal growth.

Roy, Skip, Dale, Joel,Al & Lance (sitting)

 Some of the reading that we did prior to the retreat was Christ of the Celts: the Healing of Creation: J. Philip Newell;  Journeymen: A Spiritual Guide for Men, Kent Ira Groff; Soulcraft: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche, Bill Plotkin; The Awakened Heart: Awakening Yourself to the Love you Need: Gerald G. May. We did not have any formal discussions on the books but they were more background to what we were doing.  All of the time was very experiential in helping us reflect on our own lives, where we are and where we are going. We did this together and alone, outdoor and indoors.

 One assignment was to take a walk in the woods and fields observing the authenticity of all we saw around us: trees, animals, insects, etc and then reflect on the authenticity of our own lives. On Friday afternoon we climbed up to "the bald spot". This is about 2 1/2 miles from the Camp near the top of a mountain. The climb was a good time of community and on top we did some more reflection and group time before we climbed out on "the bald spot" for an amazing view.

View from "the bald spot" looking down to the camp. Its further than it looks....this is zoomed in.

 In the Lodge we would gather around the cross on the floor and use a "talking stick" to allow each person to say what they had to say. We also had drumming circles here. We enjoyed meals together around the table and began to get to know each other better and find deeper community.
It was a wonderful two days of deeper self-reflection of who I am. It was a very relaxed pace and I really look forward to our future gatherings in the Fall, Winter & Spring.