Praise the One Who Writes Our Stories
“Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.” - Psalm 66:16
Returning to Ocean Isle Beach in January for our Life Map Retreat was a beautiful and refreshing way to begin our second semester as Fellows! We began at Ocean Isle Beach in September, and we knew nothing about one another because we had met hours before piling in a van and driving to the beach. In September, we spent most of our time asking get-to-know-you questions, learning about the Fellows Program, and preparing our hearts to enter into a new season with love and grace. It was amazing to see and feel the growth that happened within our group over the 4 months between September and January. There was an anticipation and nervousness that came with the preparation of both retreats, but that anticipation was different, especially for our Life Map Retreat. I’m sure there were a mixture of emotions going into the weekend, and I know there were many questions I pondered before the retreat: How will the group respond to my story? What should I share? What should I not share? The questions, nervousness, and abundance of emotions were part of the process in preparing for something that requires courage and vulnerability. This is why I was immensely grateful to have had 4 months to connect with our group in more meaningful ways.
The Lord was more than gracious in creating a peaceful and inviting space for all of us to share (I may be biased, but the beach is one of the most peaceful places I know)! Each of us had approximately 30 minutes to share, and after we shared, we had time to do a Q&A, pray for one another, and write notes of encouragement. Nothing about the day felt rushed, and I know that was the Holy Spirit’s presence. He was working in our individual hearts and collectively revealing how to best care for and love one another. There were many wonderful aspects about Life Map, and it’s a sweet moment to be able to reflect and understand how God has creatively and beautifully weaved pieces of our lives together. I got to see that in my own life and the lives of each of the Fellows! Everyone has a story to share, and each one holds much value!
At the end of our day of sharing, we celebrated! Sharing such deep and valuable stories should be celebrated. We celebrated with dinner, dinosaur party hats, Cookout milkshakes, and many rounds of Flip 7. It was an all-around epic weekend with laughter, joy, and fellowship, and we are better because of it. All praise to God who writes our stories!
Many blessings,
Olivia Allen