The Courage of Retreating

“Oversaturation is not the same thing as abundance.” - Alyson PryorIn this lenten episode of the pod, I am blessed to have been able to have this timely conversation with Alyson Pryor (who holds degrees in psychology from both the University of Southern California and Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Seminary). Alyson currently serves as a staff spiritual director and adjunct faculty member at Biola University, from whence she was able to publish this brand new guide to spiritual retreats, Come Away & Rest. The book is not just an apologetic case for the idea of retreat, but an actual step-by-step guide to said retreats.I was so grateful to have been able to have access to Alyson’s wisdom for this conversation, and I think you too will appreciate her insights into the good, bad, and ugly of retreating.BOOK INFO: https://www.ivpress.com/come-away-and-restEXCERPT: https://www.ivpress.com/Media/Default/Downloads/Excerpts-and-Samples/A1122-excerpt.pdfBIO: https://www.ivpress.com/alyson-pryorVISIT HER WEBSITE: https://alysonpryor.comChapters:00:00 - Opening03:30 - Alyson’s Journey to Rest09:10 - Understanding Retreats in a Christian Context12:12 - Practical Elements of Retreats18:02 - The Call to Redemption and Personal Worth20:49 - The Journey of Rest and Intimacy with God23:40 - Creating Retreats: Structure and Support25:22 - The Importance of Content in Retreats28:23 - On-Ramps and Off-Ramps: Preparing for Retreats34:16 = Lent: A Season of Reflection and Preparation37:18 - Jesus as Our Model for Retreat and Resiliencekeywords: spiritual retreats, Christian practices, rest, Lent, personal growth, silence, solitude, spiritual direction, mindfulness, prayer(ai) summary: In this episode of the Jolly Thoughts podcast, Marc Jolicoeur and Alyson Pryor discuss the significance of spiritual retreats in the Christian faith, particularly in the context of Lent. They explore Alyson’s personal journey towards finding rest and the importance of creating structured retreats that allow individuals to connect with God. The conversation delves into the challenges of modern life that hinder true rest and the necessity of preparing for and reflecting on retreat experiences. They also highlight Jesus as the ultimate model for retreating and the transformative power of silence and solitude. Get full access to Marc Jolicoeur (aka Jolly Thoughts) at marcjolicoeur.substack.com/subscribe