CARP Retreat: Living a Life of Real Love
Photos courtesy of CARP Bay Area
“This retreat was enough to give me a lot of insight that genuinely impacted how I think and act,” shared a first-time retreat participant and CARP member from California State University (CSU), East Bay. “I could express my true thoughts and feelings, allowing me to reflect and appreciate who I am and what I have in the present moment.”
CARP members of the Bay Area Chapter recently explored the concept of enduring and unchanging love during their annual fall retreat. The three-day program, “Living a Life of Real Love,” was held October 27 through 29 at Heavenly Hills Christian Camp, tucked away in the scenic terrain of Twain Harte northwest of Yosemite National Park.
“Every year, the fall retreat comes at the perfect time of shifting seasons, and serves as a much-needed separation from the hectic onslaught of midterms, projects, and class essays for both CARP leaders and participants,” said a retreat organizer. Driving down from the Bay Area to the campsite almost three hours away, “the changing landscape from urban gas stations and loaded highways, to rough dirt roads and autumn leaves makes it actually feel like fall,” the organizer said. “We Californians don’t get a lot of seasonal variety, especially if one lives in the city, so the rarity of colored leaves makes this transformation that much more special.”
Many of the retreat’s 27 participants, including visiting Cheon Il Guk Youth Missionary volunteers, said they experienced God’s presence strongly in nature.
“This retreat [brought] me closer to God, nature, and [showed me] how to stay happy and feel loved,” shared another first-time participant and Chabot College CARP member. “The retreat taught me how to live a life full of love. Spending more time in nature with my friends and having deep conversations [were] the best moments at a retreat.”
While the program covered CARP’s national curriculum, it also focused on questions surrounding real love and applying it in daily life. Other presentations examined how our worldview is developed, as well as the sacredness of love and sexuality.
“One of the key concepts I learned was about worldview,” shared the CSU, East Bay student. “Our worldview is mainly shaped by the environment we surround ourselves with, so there are many differences between each group of people from different backgrounds. [This] explains why putting ourselves in other people’s shoes is crucial in finding common shared interests that connect people together.”
Participants also received guidance on prayer, along with implementing practical spiritual habits. “Highlights for many of the participants were ... the thought-provoking presentations and following group discussions, and the appreciation letter activity we did on the final evening where everyone got to write their appreciation to other retreat participants,” said the program organizer.
“Several participants expressed that this retreat was a much-needed time to pause and reflect on their lives and how to make God a more active part of their daily schedules,” they said.
The group further bonded over various team-building activities, a pumpkin carving contest, and evening bonfires. “Participating in the morning silent prayer in nature and having quality time to discuss meaningful topics with my team members were two periods when I felt a strong connection with myself and others,” shared the CSU, Bay Area student. “I realized that joy and happiness are sometimes found in the little things around us, but we often ignore them as we focus solely on our problems ... [This retreat] was one of the most beautiful experiences I’ve ever had.”
Organizers said they hope the inspiration gained from the retreat propels CARP members through the rest of the school semester with more intention, growth, spirituality, and, of course, real love.
You can find a CARP USA chapter near you here.