Curtis Wiens, standing centre, envisions a community gathering at Shekinah year round, to worship outdoors and delight in the beauty of God’s creation. (Photo by Donna Schulz)
Participants sing together at the beginning of their worship time during forest church, held at Shekinah Retreat Centre recently. (Photo by Donna Schulz)
Why does God rest after creating the world? According to Curtis Wiens, it isn’t because God is tired and needs a break.
A mini-retreat this week for me, with a couple nights spent at a local camp while my spouse leads the Bible time. Good time for reflection, writing, thinking, reading scripture, walking… and swatting mosquitoes. A poem from one evening...
The view was breathtaking. On a clear day, from the 52nd floor, they said we should be able to see Mount Fuji. It was too hazy that day, though. All we could see were the blocks and blocks of concrete, towering buildings, and grids of traffic.
There’s something about being in God’s creation that seems to stretch time. I feel a sense of abundance and re-connection with the Creator of all. Time taken in rest, away from the people-creations which focus on time, money, production, and consumption, I remember who I am, I re-centre my self and life in Christ, and I re-commit myself to the community of faith which seeks to live in the kingdom of the Creator.
I might just be ready for a new semester.
