We just had our 2nd WF(Wildfire) retreat this past August. If I were to describe the WF retreat to you, I would say it was like a mini family gathering. It was very similar to the Family Weekend, except that we had to cook our own food, clean up after ourselves, and we didn’t have to walk or drive to our accommodations after each session. We worshiped together, we learned together, we ate together, we prayed together and we played together. It was really just a continuation of the Family Weekend.
I got to witness the WF kids working together on tasks like cooking, setting up, cleaning and playing games. I saw both the younger ones and older ones working together. I saw the leaders and WF kids both serving one another. There were so many significant moments that were made at that retreat.
As I reflected on the retreat, I was reminded of a quote I heard from our speaker at the Family Weekend: “Proximity changes everything.” I saw how being in proximity with these WF kids had changed everything. It was like everything we taught throughout the year was caught and lived out in little moments throughout the retreat. Whether it was a moment of prayer for one another or a time of playing games, I could see how being with one another so closely was making an instant impact in their words and actions.
I was also reminded of how retreats like this and significant moments I had as a youth changed my life. It was in being in proximity with people like Adrian, Ryan, Gabe, Joe and Rodney that helped shape and mold me to be the person I am today. God put them in proximity to me so that I could see Christ in them. God knew that as a youth, I wasn’t going to be cracking open the Bible any time soon, so he brought people into my life who reflected Jesus and could show me his ways.
The truth is I had many significant moments like these with people in this Church. Whether they prayed for me or played with me, they were all equally impactful in my life.
It wasn’t so much what we did as much as it was about who was involved. It was the proximity to one another that changed everything.
I believe this idea was something Jesus lived out. Jesus was in close proximity with God and others.
Luke 5:16 says
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Jesus was in close proximity to the father on a regular basis. Jesus also knew that he could do nothing by himself.
John 5:19 says
“Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
Jesus knew that he could only do what his father commands him to do. Jesus needed to be in close proximity to know what his father commands of him.
John 14:31 says
“but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me…”
Jesus also knew that he needed to be in close proximity with others.
Mark 3:13-15 says
“Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons.”
I believe that the season of Patient Endurance is going to require us to be in close proximity with God and Others. Sam reminded us that we don’t need to endure alone and Jesus understood that when he was suffering.
Jesus at the Garden of Gethsemane took a couple disciples with him as he was experiencing trouble and sorrow. In the midst of feeling overwhelmed to the point of death, Jesus made sure he was in close proximity with his disciples and with the father. He kept going back and forth to the disciples and to God. He wanted them to be with him and pray, while he also sought out the father in prayer during his troubled state.
36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”
39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”
43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.
– Matthew 26:36-45
Father, I pray that we would be intentional about being in proximity with you and others. I pray that you would draw us close to you and that you would bring us opportunities to represent you and in people’s lives and share your love with one another. Holy Spirit, we ask that you would guide us and lead us to help one another and create significant moments in each other’s lives that point us back to you. I pray this all in Jesus name, Amen!