Growth leads to better relationships.
Just like the visible budding trees and new growth of the soon-to-be beautiful flowers in the season of spring all around the Trilogy property, I am reminded of the growth opportunities in so many aspects of our lives. Growth in ourselves, with our families and partners, at our workplaces, and in our relationship with God. The love found in these relationships is there for us but often we are too caught up in the busyness of life to see the opportunities where they can be nurtured.
Today we hear the term “self-care” often used when talking about growth in ourselves. I read somewhere that self-care is not self-indulgent like being selfish but taking care of yourself in a healthy way to improve and grow to be better prepared to handle the stressors of everyday life. Stepping away for a retreat to check-in with yourself has been shown in numerous studies to improve aspects of your physical health and emotional well-being. When you choose to put yourself on the “to-do list” you are showing love to yourself in a way no one else can. It can help you find an inner peace that may have been missing or grow into a routine of allowing yourself to experience a time of calm or prayer each day – even if just for 10 minutes. Things like taking a walk to recognize the beauty in the season happening outside (and there is beauty in each of them), talking to God, getting lost in an interesting book, stretching or meditating are just a few possibilities of ways to love yourself so you can breathe and better show love to others which in turn improves your relationships over time.
The new life and growth we see in spring also makes me think of “Wedding Season” and engaged couples planning their new lives together. The summer of 2022 we had our first wedding at Trilogy and early spring was when planning ramped up. It was refreshing to see this young couple quite relaxed about their special day. They clearly had taken the time to communicate to each other what was important in unifying their faith and the people wanted to include. We were so inspired by how much they recognized and valued the love that surrounded them; in their families, friends, work relationships, and especially from God. We worked with them to create a unique wedding experience that honored their new union together and the relationships they had obviously taken time to grow to this point in their lives. If you are at this step of growth and commitment in your relationship, or know someone who is, encourage them to “check-in” with each other and come up with a plan of how they will take time regularly to grow together in their faith and promises of love, just like this couple did.
Growing with our families or spouses can be tricky these days with full schedules, each going in separate directions. Family members living apart from one another keep us from finding the time to spend together. Just because we are in the same “family” or live in the same space doesn’t mean we automatically connect or show the love we ought to. It’s up to us to collectively get creative and find time or activities that can help us grow our relationships as a couple or family. Maybe it’s a handwritten note more than once a year for their birthday, sharing a daily or weekly scripture verse, quote, or funny joke in a family group text, starting a family zoom, or a game everyone can play from anywhere together through their favorite device. It could be that scheduling time to meet up for a family or couple retreat day/weekend is all it takes to show your love for other family members or your spouse and help relationships grow. We love having families and couples here and watching them focus on each other and create deeper bonds.
Let’s not forget those we work with too. If we are working a full-time job outside our living space, then we most likely spend more time with our coworkers than we do our own families. It’s just as important to grow these relationships too. So, let’s turn it around and look at this area in a different way: What kind of example are we at work? How do we help other people to grow? How do we support the work people are doing? You may not realize how much of an influence you have on others, and in turn it could help the whole team grow. Maybe it’s time to spend some quality time away outside of the workplace to connect in a unique way?
For me, when I look around the property, there are visible signs of God’s love for us everywhere. The scripture from the Song of Solomon 2:10-14 says it so beautifully,
“For now is the time, my beautiful one.
The season has changed,
the bondage of your barren winter has ended,
and the season of hiding is over and gone.
The rains have soaked the earth
and left it bright with blossoming flowers.
The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.
I hear the cooing of doves in our land,
filling the air with songs to awaken you
and guide you forth.
Can you not discern this new day of destiny
breaking forth around you?
The early signs of my purposes and plans
are bursting forth.
The budding vines of new life
are now blooming everywhere.
The fragrance of their flowers whispers,
“There is change in the air.”
I pray for all those who will come to Trilogy on retreat this year to do their self-check-ins, to grow deeper in faith, gather together with others for some restorative time away, or to simply focus on the opportunities of growth in love or faith.
~Aimee Wasinski