In just over four weeks’ time we have a glorious spiritual retreat.  A place of recharging our souls and each other.   A place much hotter than here.  A place to relax.  To slow down.  A place to have fun.  A place with new people. A place we have never been before.  A place without church or bible.

And without those two bits we name that “holiday”.  The unspoken teaching is that a holiday is of the flesh and indulgence (and a retreat is of the spirit and restoration).

I see no difference.

I wonder why the unspoken knowing is that God cannot (really) be found in a bar or a restaurant.  Nor (really) found on a beach by the sea.  Nor (really) in the laughter and bawdy banter around a table.  Not really in the quiet contemplation of a distant horizon … a small working boat … a passing beach seller … small birds scratching for a crumb … children playing in the surf … in the buzz and bustle of having a loving and joyous fun time.

Why do we choose retreat with God – but holiday without?

I have always found holidays as seeing a God who is everywhere.  A God who is Love everywhere.  A God who delights not just in “living in the bible” of a believer – but who lives in each. A God who scents the daily living of all – everywhere. A God of no particular name – of no particular sacred text – nor defined by a certain creed – not even worshiped as we believe we should and must: in a certain way, at a certain time, and with those who are like-minded. A God of no particular name who is free of all that stuff we need to “need”.

“Jesus said to his disciples, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” “ John 15:9-11

Isn’t love joy and joy love? Isn’t love free and joy freeing?

The love and joy found in bawdy banter on a beach far from here.  The love and joy in the quiet reflection of a distant horizon.  Of the hurly-burly of checking-in and checking-out.  Of a God who needs no name as we must name God.  A God who needs no formality as we need formality.  A God who needs no obedience as we define obedience.  A God of love and joy who needs nothing as we need to pick our “needs”.

A God who delights in love and joy in all – everywhere.

I find that I can be as close to my God on a beach far from home as in the bible and formal prayer.  I can be closer to God with a drink in my hand and a bawdy joke shared than sitting in a church feeling all alone.  I can be closer to my God there as anywhere else.  And I wonder …

If I cannot find my God there what does that say (not) about his “commandments” …

But about my need of his “commandments”?

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