My Private Retreat

This week I started a private, personal health and spiritual wellness retreat. It didn’t start out that way, though. It started out as a “get hot” plan for ACL, a music festival called Austin City Limits that a couple friends and I are going to in October. I really just wanted to get into shape and then I realized my physical body is not the only thing that needs a little work. I’m sorry to say that my relationship with God needs some work. But I didn’t stop there. Not only did I want to work on my body and my relationship with God, I wanted to work on my music too. I rarely have time to write music since I work so far away from home all day long and most weekends, so I decided it was time to stop complaining and fix that as well.

My plan consists of this: For my body I am working out five times a week, not eating any dairy (which is a lot easier than it sounds), and not drinking any alcohol. For my spirit I am making it a priority to read my Bible, an amazing book called “Waking the Dead” by John Eldredge (which I enthusiastically recommend to anyone who wants to see the world through the eyes of their heart), and spending time talking to God every day. For my music I must practice and/or write something each evening before I do anything else fun. These three things make up my private retreat and I’m doing this for five weeks. It actually takes a lot of time to accomplish these three things before I do anything else, but if that's all I have time for every day for the next five weeks, then that's all I have time for.

I’m on day four and doing great, so far. Peace has been surrounding me for the last couple days and I’m positive it has something to do with the focus I am putting on keeping my awareness on God at all times. That part is hard, I have to admit. My mind wanders, I start to worry, I make grandiose plans for my future, and I forget to include God in my decisions. But then I realize what I’m doing and put my mind back on track.

I’m starting to crave cheese….

This is the first week. I’ll let you know how it goes at the end of week five. Send me your prayers and vegan baked goods.