We followed steep paths up the crags and planted flags of courage, of commitment and rekindled trust. Carefully woven fig leaves were relinquished to the fire — garments fashioned over many decades to keep us safe (and make us look good). We cannot summon the lightning, or conjure the presence we so long for. But we can surrender, betting the whole farm on His love for us.
Good principles. Insightful strategies. Gurus around every corner with a new ten step plan. If the change in us was equal to the resources at our disposal, we would be the most transformed generation to ever wander the planet. Is it possible that life is less of a puzzle to solve, and more of a gift to unwrap? Not something to figure out but something to open up to?
Did you hear what the spiritual seeker asked the pizza chef?
“Make me one with everything”
Old joke, but our desire for connection is a clue to God’s desire for us. Our unique, beautiful “onlyness” finds its highest expression in communion with one another. Darkness separates, but Love unites. And united we stood - seventeen warriors who took the risk of wagering everything on His great affection for us.
God does not love you because you are a good boy. But, because He loves you, your desire is to grow more and more into His likeness. This is the mystery of Grace. A transformative force that makes beauty – not through fear of judgement and exclusion - but by gloriously including us, without exception.
For three and a half days, fourteen brave adventurers stepped up to the line where the light and the fire meet. It was hard and beautiful, bitter-sweet and rich, a hurricane and a gentle healing wind.
Through our times alone in the veld, and our celebrations together around the fire, we unveiled glimmers our true identity - the Original You.
We followed steep paths up the crags and planted flags of courage, of commitment and rekindled trust. Carefully woven fig leaves were relinquished to the fire — garments fashioned over many decades to keep us safe (and make us look good). We cannot summon the lightning, or conjure the presence we so long for. But we can surrender, betting the whole farm on His love for us.
Good principles. Insightful strategies. Gurus around every corner with a new ten step plan. If the change in us was equal to the resources at our disposal, we would be the most transformed generation to ever wander the planet. Is it possible that life is less of a puzzle to solve, and more of a gift to unwrap? Not something to figure out but something to open up to?
Did you hear what the spiritual seeker asked the pizza chef?
“Make me one with everything”
Old joke, but our desire for connection is a clue to God’s desire for us. Our unique, beautiful “onlyness” finds its highest expression in communion with one another. Darkness separates, but Love unites. And united we stood - seventeen warriors who took the risk of wagering everything on His great affection for us.
God does not love you because you are a good boy. But, because He loves you, your desire is to grow more and more into His likeness. This is the mystery of Grace. A transformative force that makes beauty – not through fear of judgement and exclusion - but by gloriously including us, without exception.
For three and a half days, fourteen brave adventurers stepped up to the line where the light and the fire meet. It was hard and beautiful, bitter-sweet and rich, a hurricane and a gentle healing wind.
Through our times alone in the veld, and our celebrations together around the fire, we unveiled glimmers our true identity - the Original You.
A man in love cannot be deterred — he will cross a thundering torrent and scale the castle walls in the dead of night, just to be with his beloved. Love does not need a three-step plan or a set of principles to guide its quest. Drawn by desire, it is a pursuit navigated solely by the heart. This is no sugary tale — it is Christianity as revealed by Jesus. A story of how He would come for us and how we, as beloved sons and daughters, would follow Him regardless of the cost. Love is utterly unstoppable.
The offer has always been Life. We had life to the full in the Garden, walking in the presence and light of the One who’s image we bear. But as our brightness faded, the great loss became evident: contentment, security, identity, intimacy, delegated authority — all these and more were relinquished as the Dark Conjurer went after you, the object of God’s affection.
The next Higher Ground retreat is now open for registration. Sixteen men will be heading into the wild open spaces of Bontebok Ridge Reserve, about 90 minutes from Cape Town. Our heart yearns for more of God, to experience Him not as a theological concept, but as Father, Lover and Friend. We are trusting Him for a remarkable adventure together - savouring each moment and having lots of fun along the way.
