What if your every tomorrow was no different to yesterday? Such a world cannot live alongside our deep longing for some beautiful, eternal thing. At times the “more” we yearn for seems elusive, acutely so over the past couple of years, a season during which the assault upon our joy was more tangible than ever before. It was easy to come adrift. Yet, we are pursued by an extravagant love.

We are now entering our tenth year of drawing away into the mountains, intentionally stepping back from the noise and giving ourselves to a time of connection, celebration and healing. Eighteen men had the privilege of sharing these four days of sojourn together. 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.

Words fall short of conveying the nearness and affection we experienced out there in the veld, in our beds at night, around the fire at sunrise, and in the times of meeting and solidarity we shared.

Thank you Papa. We are privileged to be your boys.

Thank you too, men, for choosing to leap from the falls. Massive props to Bontebok Ridge and every member of the Higher Ground team who looked after us, prayed for us continually, delighted us with fare fit for kings and ensured that we returned home in one piece (and without an arrow in anyone’s butt - good job Derick!).

Finally, it would be amiss of me not to mention how much I enjoyed the laughter, merriment and sheer joy we shared - it has been way too long.

Till we see each other in 2024 - here’s to the King!

Team Higher Ground

Join us on the next retreat