Writing retreats are a wonderful way for authors to feed their creative mind. Discussing ideas, brainstorming plots, sharing marketing tips – the fellowship is invaluable. Yet when you get together with Christian authors, there’s an extra element that feeds the soul.
This past weekend was the 3rd annual Inkette Retreat. The Inkettes were started by Dani Pettrey, and this wonderful group of writers has had a huge impact on my life. Meaningful friendships with authors I wouldn’t normally cross paths with yet who share my core values, push me to be my best self both in writing and in life.
Jesus letting the children come to him – a statue on the grounds of the theater as we drove in.
This year we retreated in Branson, MO, and every day we were there, I felt the Lord in our midst. On Thursday when we arrived, we found Christian touches all over the house we had rented. I knew the owner was a writer, but what I didn’t know was that she was a Christian writer. Not only did we find her books, but Tolken, C.S. Lewis, Bibles, and devotional books in every room.
Then on Friday we went to the Sight and Sounds Theater, and I was blown away by the performance of Samson. They are a Christian production company, and every show they produce is based on the Bible and incredibly true to the textual account. Their special effects, their sets, the talent of their actors/singers all left me in awe. This was the best produced show I’d seen live anywhere – Christian or not. It’s a fully immersive experience. The sets are built out along the walls to help you feel like you are part of the action. There were live animals like goats, pigs, horses, dogs (playing foxes), llamas, and even a camel – all on stage.They also used projection technology for incredibly realistic scenery and amazing special effects.
Best of all, their main focus is spreading God’s love and grace to their audience. There was no usual curtain call, just a finishing number that emphasized grace and how we must allow God to take us captive if we are truly to experience freedom. And they stationed prayer warriors at the front of the theater in case any audience members wished to ask for prayer or wanted to accept the grace of Jesus into their lives.
We often see Samson as somewhat of a failure. His poor choices with women his downfall. Yet, they emphasized instead how God chooses to work through imperfect people, changing their weakness into strength – people like you and me. What an encouraging message! If you ever have the chance to go to the Sight & Sound Theater either in Branson, MO or Lancaster, PA, do yourself a favor and go. I have never experienced a more phenomenal show.
Saturday we met with readers at the local library (I believe Julie will share more about that event in her post next week), and the turnout was more than we expected. What a blessing!
Sunday, Jody Hedlund and I made the drive to Mansfield to tour Rocky Ridge Farm, the home of Laura and Almanzo Wilder. We toured the homes, the museums, even visited their graves. But the one item that drew my attention and spoke to my spirit more than any other was a note in Laura’s handwriting that had been found in her Bible. Practical verses for living out her faith in all situations. when I found a photo copy of it in the gift shop for $0.25, I snatched it up! Best quarter I ever spent.
Continuously throughout the weekend, God came near, and I came away richer for it. My prayer is that my writing will be richer for it as well.
- Have you ever been on a spiritual retreat? Or taken a regular trip that had a big spiritual impact when God showed up?
- Have you ever been to a Sight and Sound production? What did you think?
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Groups from our church used to go on spiritual retreats at a retreat center in Round Top, TX. The serene setting, the excellent speakers, the contemplative activities, and the restful pace all contributed to the spiritual refreshment we experienced there.
That sounds wonderful, Suzanne. We all need those Sabbath times to refresh and reconnect with God. I think that is why this year’s retreat spoke to my heart so much. I’ve been plagued with too much busy-ness lately and I haven’t carved out time just to be in his presence with no distractions. I’m working to change that, but sometimes we need a change of scenery and a break from the every day to achieve it.
I was at Samson in Brandon on Thursday and was amazed and Blessed too! I wanted to see you but we left Saturday AM. I live in Mobile, AL. Drove A half way & spent note in Lake Village, AK. Samson was my very special experience too!
God had a special experience for me when He seated me next to a couple of missionary evangelist’s from Pennsylvania near Lancaster who know all about the history of the Sight & Sound Theatre. I am also a missionary from Youth With A Mission. God moments! Blessings, Pamela
How wonderful, Pamela! I’m sad that we missed each other by mere hours, but it sounds like Samson’s story touched your heart as much as it did mine. And how wonderful to connect with other missionaries! I love when God works little blessings like that into our lives. It’s like the husband who leaves his wife little love notes here and there. Just to remind us that he cares.
We saw Sight & Sound’s ‘Samson’ production about a month ago after a long time of watching them on dvd, and we were of course totally blown away. It’s hard to find good ways to describe their awesome shows to people who haven’t seen them before; but the closest I can come is to say that it’s theater in the extreme, and people should definitely go out of their way to experience it! So neat that your group was able to go!
Theater in the extreme – I like that description, Bree. You are so right. It blew all of my expectations out of the water. Definitely one of the top highlights of our trip.
Thanks for sharing the joy of your trip. I’m sure it was extra special with your writer friends.
I’ve seen two Sight and Sound productions in Lancaster – Jonah and The Story of Ruth. They were everything you said. The live animals add so much.
I’m so glad you’ve had the chance to see some of their shows, Betty. I definitely hope to go back in a few years and see another one. So, so good.
I took my young grandchildren to see Noah at the Sight and Sound Theatre a few years ago! Last summer three of us met Savannah Kaiser at the Laura Ingalls Museum!
Wow,what an awesome thing to experience!
I would have loved to have something like that going on here.
I’ve never been to the Sight N’ Sound Theator, but I’ve been to the Laura Ingalls Wilder sites in Mansfield twice. The first time I was 6 years old and my dad had read the series out loud to me and my brothers. Standing in front of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s desk where she wrote the books, I decided I was going to be a published author someday. 19 years later, I visited the site again two months after my first book published. I’m amazed how even years after her death, God is still using Laura Ingalls Wilder to inspire young Christian authors and many others.
We have been to a few and they were very good.