Let’s just acknowledge the fact that March in Raleigh might be peak living. College basketball is always on, the Carolina Hurricanes are gearing up for the playoffs, the flowers start blooming again, and Will Wade got run out of town. It’s a good time to be here. Before digging into what March looked like as a Fellow, I must begin with my deepest and most sincere apology to Jacob Currin for posting this blog a few days late…again. Trust me, I read my 360 review - I know I still have some things to work on.
The first highlight of March was hitting the road and traveling to the most magical place on earth…Docksology. Ashley and Sam’s lake house is such a special place - truly a gift from the Lord that they’ve stewarded incredibly well. This month we had the privilege of sharing that space with another Fellows program for a retreat led by John Richmond. For those who have heard his name, you know John is one of the most inspiring people doing some of the most impactful work anywhere.
The weekend centered around 10 “Rules of Life” that John created for his family - guiding principles that help them live intentionally and faithfully.
10 Rules of Life:
Glorify God alone
Know your name
People are more important than stuff
Speak truth in love
Feelings are not actions
Know how to stop
Finish the job
Be generous
Happen to your life
Make wrong things right
Of course, there’s a great deal of context and wisdom behind each of these. But if I had to summarize the takeaway in one sentence, it would be this:
Big things don’t happen accidentally.
Our next retreat together looked very different from our time at the lake house.
When I first saw “Silent Retreat” on the Google Calendar months ago, I genuinely had no idea what that meant. Silence with God hasn’t historically been a big part of my story. As an Enneagram 3 - have I mentioned that I’m an Enneagram 3 yet? - my brain naturally gravitates toward accomplishing tasks and getting things done. I hate going to bed feeling like I wasted the day. In some ways, that drive can be good. But in other ways, it makes it incredibly difficult to slow down, to be still, and to sit in the presence of the Lord the way Scripture calls us to.
As expected, it was challenging. I felt restless, like I couldn’t settle into my seat. My mind kept racing to the next thing I needed to do. Fortunately, my good friend John Mark Comer and I eventually found some quiet space and spent time reading The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. It took several hours before I finally reached a place where I was simply reading - focused, present, and not thinking about the next task waiting for me.
One line from the book especially hit me:
“For many of us, the great danger is not that we will renounce our faith. It is that we will become so distracted and rushed and preoccupied that we will settle for a mediocre version of it. We will just skim our lives instead of actually living them.”
That felt like a bit of a wake-up call.
Overall, March was very full, and I’m still learning how to live my life differently than I was 365 days ago. I’m incredibly grateful for some really cool opportunities that have come my way, but I’m even more grateful for the people who have stepped into my life along the way. Fellows may be coming to an end, but many new friendships are just beginning.
Thank you, Lord.
*peace sign*
-Peyton
