I spent this past weekend living on the side of a mountain midway between Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee. I had no internet and no cell phone service all weekend. It was very nice. But before I left, I was getting on Facebook, and updating my Twitter page, and making sure I was going to receive all my text updates. I couldn't wait to tell the world what I was doing on the Artist Retreat for 3 days, hoping to share all that God would teach me and all the amazing music we would create.

The weekend, as with most of my life it seems, did not turn out quite as I had planned. The no cell phone service thing was actually a relief! I didn't have to "keep up" with anything or anyone. I wasn't attached to the things of this world that distract me and pull me and captivate my attention in my day to day life. During one of our devotions the speaker said that those things that you think about all the time are your idols, and he challenged us to question what it is that is always on our minds. For me, some of those things include: my hope and desire to get married someday, how I can improve my songwriting and market myself as an independent musician, worry about bills, and honestly, sadly, "Oh, I should Tweet that!" Which is kind of funny, given such a serious list. But it's true. Somehow things like Twitter and Facebook become this MO for Vanity, rather than a tool to bring Christ to light in our lives and to share our faith. So needless to say, it was wonderful to get away...although it was sorta fun to catch up when I got home! :)

Speaking of songwriting, that was another thing that did not go as planned... I had hoped that in my "getting away" I would be able to focus my thoughts and energy into writing some songs and journaling some things I expected God would teach me. But let me just tell you, it was SO cold! I may have gotten away from the world, but I couldn't get away from all the other people there! Which I didn't mind one bit. I loved everyone. I loved that there was music playing almost 24-7, even though it meant you couldn't go into another room and write because there was music playing 15 feet away in the other room. I couldn't exactly leave the warmth of the lodge, the fireplace, or the hot chocolate to try to write in another freezing building. Like the cabin. The cabin where we slept with space heaters and yet it was 45 degrees that first night (10 degrees outside!).

The cold weather and this chest congestion I've had for 2 weeks now kept me indoors all weekend. While others were outside playing disc golf, blacksmithing (yep, blacksmithing), and ziplining, I stayed in by the fire and let the magic of my codeine-cough-syrup-induced sleep take over. So, though my weekend wasn't very productive, it was relaxing. It was restful. God brought some amazing people into my life, and I made some fantastic new friends. And really, isn't that what it's all about anyway? Relationships. Eating meals together. Playing together. Sharing our gifts with each other. Bringing glory to God for the wonders He works in our lives.