the key to a good retreat

I wish I knew it.

Tomorrow I leave on my fourth edition of "The Junior High Spring Retreat." Each year is different, challenging to me personally, and filled with lots of processed cheese products. (For the record, I don't understand the fascination with cheese in a can, it kind of makes my stomach weep.)

Every year, we fill vans, pile into "the big room," cover each other with marker marks, and laugh a lot. Every year, more kids want to come, more kids fill the space, more people want to be a part of the retreat. We are blessed.

But it isn't my doing. I can barely take credit for it because the model was built by hands prior to my own and it is now executed by a team of wonderful parents and volunteers that love young teens. I fill in the blanks, talk about Jesus, and send a few emails.

It kind of doesn't seem fair if people say thanks to me.

It's really more about the work of the Spirit in the people than anything I do.

Really. I'm not just saying that.