"Church retreat," aka something that once said people automatically envision a dark giant room filled with "Jesus freaks" sitting in a circle praying all weekend with no fun. I've heard church retreats be referred to as somewhere people go and get brainwashed, and even cult meetings. Believe it or not, it is really nothing like it. In fact, I was lucky enough to experience a specific retreat in my hometown that I could not be more thankful for, so here is a letter to the church retreat that made me the ecstatic to be who I am today.
To the SEARCH Retreat,
Growing up I was raised in a Catholic household but to a certain extent. I went to religious education classes in order to make my Communion and Confirmation, but nothing more than the bare minimum I needed to do. I believed in God, but weekly church was not a thing for me and not even praying regularly was. That all changed after the first of the three greatest weekends of my entire life.
I was invited to go on you by a close friend during my junior year, and I hesitantly accepted because of the secrecy that surrounds you. I would ask people that previously went on you what exactly it is that you do and I kept getting the same responses. "You'll see," "Can't say," "The surprises are all part of the weekend," is all I would get. A couple weeks went by and next thing I knew I was packing a bag to go away for 3 days with absolutely no idea what was going to be happening. To say I was nervous was an understatement.
It was not until I arrived at the location of the retreat and I was a couple hours into the weekend, did I realize that I was about to have the experience of a lifetime. The energy you held for 3 days straight was immense. The passion and heart that the adults and student leaders projected throughout the entire weekend was truly inspiring. Every activity, every prayer, song, hour, minute, and even second was better than the last. I walked into you expecting a weekend described above, people sitting in a circle praying with absolutely no fun. Little did I know that in just 3 days, I would be leaving with a giant new family, a new found love for myself and those in my life, and most importantly, a stronger and healthier relationship with God.
Ever since that first experience, I have been called back twice in order to be a leader on it and each time the "SEARCH high" was stronger than the last. If there was any wish in the world I could have come true, it would be for everyone to be able to experience you. You opened my eyes to a world I did not see before. You made me appreciate those in my life more than I previously had and you even made me appreciate myself more than I did. You gave me a family each and every time I went on you and you made sure that that family is with me always. You filled me with gratitude, love, friendship, and most importantly, faith.
You not only strengthened my relationship with God, but you also taught me that I should not be embarrassed to be proud of my faith. You taught me that there are people in the world that do not believe in the same things as me and that is okay. You taught me that there are negative things in the world, negative people, and negative events, but having faith can help make it through the tough times. You taught me that I am loved unconditionally and know that is an incredible feeling.
So, thank you SEARCH. Thank you for helping me be myself, helping me love every aspect of myself and everyone around me. Thank you for making me realize that I was made in God's imagine and therefore I am enough. Thank you for helping me realize that there is always someone there for me even if it doesn't feel like it. Thank you for showing me I have the strongest support system underneath me and nothing or no one can take that away for me. Thank you for changing my life and the lives of everyone else that has experienced you for the better.
With forever love and appreciation,
A member of SEARCH 104, 105, & 106
