I was recently at a women’s ministry event that was unlike any I had ever attended. It was called a Silent Retreat and, in the style of Lectio Divina, centered on the repeated reading of Scripture alongside prayer, meditation on God’s Word, and time in solitude with Jesus, followed by a gathering to share what God had revealed during those quiet moments.

Have you ever found yourself in church, listening to a sermon, and your thoughts drift away? I am sure we have all been there — writing notes to stay focused, fidgeting to calm nerves, or perhaps struggling to stay awake due to a lack of sleep. That is where I found myself on this Sunday, and adding to my distraction were thoughts of a recent discussion with my physician. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis so am no stranger to difficult medical conversations, but discussing the future need for a knee replacement at age 47 had been a shock and was weighing on my mind.