The Mountain with NET Ireland

Well, friends, it is Monday! It has been a long while since you have seen a Monday Musing from me but...

Fear not I have certainly not run out of things to say.

Currently, I am slowly coming out of a retreat brain haze. If you have ever been on a Spiritual Retreat you will know what I mean... Retreat is chalked full of delicious and abundant food, sugar, praise and worship, Mass, talks, small groups, big groups, giggles, belly laughs, and tears. LOTS of tears. All while having completely ignored the "Lights Out" call from the Chaperones because there is so much to talk about with your roommates. Hence the haze...sooooo sleepy. This weekend I was privileged to take a group of kids with two awesome adults as a Chaperone to Schonstatt Marienland in Germany for Confirmation Retreat. Other communities joined us with their chaperones too.

In my experience, there are three main phases of retreat (this is assuming of course that you have participated fully). The first is the: "I care enough to act like I don't really care so this better be good now entertain me!" day.

A well-run retreat will have had planned out and prayed over room assignments, even if they were randomly selected and the Chaperones will know who is where (or should be). The teens get their keys, put their bags in the room, and frantically (but like, not in an obvious way because I mean, they aren't desperate) look for their friend..... They see them, inward giant sigh of relief. Sup bro.  Everyone is called into the main session area. This is where all the dialogue starts to bubble and you hear the first giggles....they start noticing... EVERYONE.

Imagine the sound of a buzzing beehive. Everyone looking for or buzzing about all the honey. And by honey I mean, who's cute. Everyone looks at everyone, determining if they are competition, friend potential, someone they definitely don't want to be in a group with because; seriously how could they possibly have left the house wearing THAT?, cuteness and the text best thing. The Retreat Leaders step forward. Now it's time to channel all that buzzing to a hum but this hum just means that they are slightly more quietly assessing the team by almost all the same standards with the added criteria of...who would I want to be or am more like... "not him, definitely not that guy...oh that is the DUDE right there! GOAT! (um, that means Greatest of All Time). If I were old enough I would totally ask that one out." As the team begins the minds switch from this shallow pool criticism to a that of a slightly deeper demand to be entertained. If the opening isn't authentic, vibrant, and fun (the same can be said of the presenters). Many check out. Those who were actually hoping for something will relax.

This weekend you could almost FEEL in the air the moment when the majority of the teens let a little air out of their super tight balloon and leaned in. That is because the leaders, the team presenting and ministering to our teens is from NET Ministries in Ireland. You can learn more about their specific mission here: https://www.netministries.ie. Good news is there are NET Missions all over the world so calm your sweet heart dear fellow minister or parent....there is a chance for you to experience what I am about to share too :)

This team of three young women and two young men met our teens in that space, they set guidelines, they shared their mission, their purpose, their energy in that first opening they did it all in a captivating and authentic experience that drew the teens in. The teens were able (for a few minutes at a time) to put away their judgments of self, each other. To quiet the constant noise in their world to engage in the starting line of the Retreat race. Because the team established Who they were (collectively at first and then throughout the retreat shared individual testimony, experience, and awesomeness), What they were doing, Why it mattered for them and US, and sprinkled in personal authenticity all with this clear expectation that they cared for the teens so the teens should rise to meet them with a shared respect. The tone was set for an incredible experience. This part is one of the most arduous in the retreat, it is the start of the hike up the Mountain.

The second part of the retreat is: The pack is full, my shoes are tied, the sun is coming up, and I am on my way to the top of the mountain...Its awesome, then it gets really hard and I am super thirsty and I need to sit down but I can't because the sun will set and I have to get to the top. Oh man!! I am here I got to the top Oh My GOD, look at the glory!!! What an amazing work of art God has shown me from up here!! I want to stay here FOREVER.

It's a lot. The talks are real. The skits are sometimes really funny...I'm talking snort-inducing funny and some are poignant like Yeah, man I totally get it! Sometimes absolutely gut-wrenching, not just calling for the conversion of heart but ripping the heart from your chest...showing it to you, gently and lovingly dusting it off and placing it back brand new. The praise and worship is transcendent and otherworldly. The Mass is a respite, like a moment on the hike where you take a break and hear the birds and feel the rustle of the wind and fuel up on holy trail mix. Then the really really hard stuff. The hurt.

Teens, well arguably everyone, are surrounded by so much noise, so much distraction. The time to see and recognize an emotion, to call it out, consider it and watch it pass along to the next is simply non-existent. There is NO silence. There is almost always a filter. And when you take the cell phones and the competition and the lies away, well, they are left with the real confrontation of the hurt they have. The joy they really feel but didn't want to admit it, the concerns and worry they have stuffed away and hidden in a game of Fortnight. All that bubbles up and the tears flow. Then they realize they are thirsty. And have thorns in their feet and a heavy pack on their back. They almost sweat sorrow. That is when the team shows them the CROSS. That is when we all get to go to confession and that is when we witness the teens support each other instead of judging. You will see groups of teens huddled together, holding one another in friendship and love. Forgiving each other, realizing that the kid they thought they would absolutely NEVER talk to at the beginning of the retreat has the same suffering they do and console each other. After a time the end of the night approaches it is all brought together. And the Team prays for each teen, with them and for them. The Team encourages them, the Team points to Jesus and says...there! There is the most intense love in the world...You have found it! He was with you, is with you, will never leave you and is so glad you are...YOU. The truth is difficult to wrestle with sometimes.  But we are not alone and the truth frees you like no filter ever could. The tears continue and they drown out and wash the pain right into a deep pool of surrender.

The last part is thank yous, the resolution, the absolute resolve, the hug, and more tears and the feeling like I can conquer anything!!! Then you find yourself on the road, back to the "real world" and all the hubbub and the business and. THE. NOISE. You suddenly realize you are bone tired. And it takes a while to let your brain un-mush itself. And this is the time that the enemy loves. You have covered yourself in Jesus, you have swum in the seas of surrender and are feeling armed and dangerous. But coming down the mountain into the valley means that shadows are there, the pain we thought we let go of is just crouching down waiting to grab your ankles and yank you into old habits. You find yourself lashing out and getting angry. So many misunderstand the point of retreat. They think its a place to get AWAY from all this. And yes, there is validity in that. But the truth is...it is the place you go so that you can MAKE IT THROUGH the busy, and the business of living. It is the Armour and the Fuel and the Battle Cry. Retreat is necessary so that you can look the devil in the eye and say NOPE. Retreat is the reminder that there IS a place, a person (Jesus) that you can seek refuge.

I took a bunch of teens to retreat so they could climb the mountain. So they could be fit for the fight so they could know that they are loved so absolutely. And as always, those things ended up happening for me, too. Youth Ministry is as much a part of my own growth as it is (hopefully) for the teens I love. I fell in love with the missionaries and made what I believe will be lifelong friendships.

The retreat, of course, was not without its problems. Some people never let the experience seep into their soul and never open past the first stage....but if a handful of the teens find themselves to be covered in glory, learn they are truly fabulous, loved, and their hearts are set ablaze for higher and better things than what they previously thought.....if they become disciples of Jesus....so worth it.

To my new found friends, Patrick (Paddy-G), Brendan, Ciara, Marie, Teresa (T-Chev) and to my dear Sr. Jennifer,

It is an absolute honor to be a laborer in this Vinyard with you. May God always shine brightly through you and lead so many souls to heaven through your faithful obedience that when Jesus comes no one would be separated from His love, we would all - with outstretched arms - fly to greet eternity with confidence and celebration. You holy men and women are a true inspiration.


And of course a thank you to our amazing Priest, Rev. Stephen McDermott for being a phenomenal dude, and epic photobomb genius. As well as our very own Bishop Spencer from the Archdiocese for Military Service- your wisdom, prayer cards, and general awesomeness is so appreciated.

If you would like to support NET Ministries Ireland or any of the NET Missions check em out.

And there is a Schonstatt community near you if you cannot get to the Schonstatt Shrine here in Germany....you can find one I guarantee it. Join the Schonstatt family here: https://www.schoenstatt.org/en/services/about-schoenstatt/the-shrine/

My favorite songs from the praise and worship sessions are: Overwhelm Me and Come to the Altar: