Job wrote, “Turn to the animals and let them teach you...Listen to the plants of the earth, and learn from them.” Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air...Consider the lilies of the field,” and “From the tree, learn its lesson.” In this weekend retreat for men, we expand our awareness of God’s presence in the wild, atune ourselves to the wisdom of nature, and embrace our place within the community of creation. Through wandering, rest, and renewal in the woods—along with shared meals and meaningful conversation—we open ourselves to the sacred wisdom of the wilderness. Steve Thomas will provide the five presentations for conversation:
The Call of the Wild and Wildman
Our Place in the Community of Creation
Beholding the Divine in God’s Wild Sanctuary
The Glory of Trees in God’s Creation
Rooted and Grounded for a Resilient Life
For several wilderness wandering times when men turn to wild teachers, men may also spend time with some of all of sixteen stations of Trees of Life: Learning from Our Elders hanging from trees in the forest. There will also be small group times for conversation for what men are noticing in the wild and within themselves. The table for the Sunday morning service will feature an artful display of items men have gathered representing the beauty, biodiversity, and abundant life of God’s wild creation.
Event:
Start Time
End Time:
Venue: Pilgrim Park Camp in Princeton, Illinois (26449 1340 N Ave, Princeton, IL 61356)
Registration: tbd
Our guide for this event is Steve Thomas, the US coordinator for Mennonite Men. A graduate of Hesston College, Goshen College, and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Steve has served in pastoral ministry for thirty-three years. He cofounded and directed Peacemakers Academy—a Mennonite martial arts school—for ten years, and taught as an adjunct professor in peace, justice, and conflict studies at Goshen College for six years. He is a cofounder of the Indiana/Michigan MALEs chapter of Illuman and a cofounder of Pathways Retreat. He is an ISA Certified Arborist and has a graduate certificate in urban forestry from Oregon State University. He and Linda Lehman Thomas have four children and live in Goshen, Indiana. He enjoys leading retreats, arboriculture, woodland management, furniture making, and being “Poppy” to his grandchildren.