Calm in the Storm intro

Everyone get comfortable.  Relax your muscles.  Time is different now.  We are on retreat.  We have made it, a few more straggling in, but we are here now.  For the next two and a half days, time will not be racing at the same speed it does in the office or studying for class.  We are here.  That thing that you need to do by Wednesday night, that email that maybe you could’ve crafted better, the amount you have in your bank account vs. last week’s expenses, the job hunt, the difficult coworker, the traffic and red lights driving out here tonight, the things you should’ve done, the relationship in crisis, where you’re going to live in the spring, the stress of anticipating the upcoming holiday stress…  let all of these things go.  For the next two and half days, let’s work with a clean slate, focus on our life with and imitation of Christ.  God has wanted this exact group to be here, thanks be to God, we’re here now.  Let us pray…