Stories from the Scotland Retreat
Laura, a member of the Just Love Network based in Scotland, shares her reflections and key takeaways from the Scotland Retreat in June.
I think I was somewhere slumped on the sofa with my flatmate when we spied the opportunity to ‘retreat’ with others from the Just Love Network in Scotland. With her graduation coming up, and I facing the trials of redundancy, we signed up almost instantly and promptly forgot about it.
Then when it was time to take the train down to Dunbar we picked at snacks and wondered what we might learn, which faces we might recognise and who’s names would be new.
As passive as the word ‘retreat’ can seem, there was absolutely nothing passive about this opportunity to get away. While we may have retreated from our own homes and complex lives, it was not an attempt to isolate or shut out the world around us, and just for the weekend our group was imbedded in Dunbar's vibrant community. Set within the walls of maybe the trendiest hostel I've stayed in, we began our time with fellowship and worship - the key ingredients for bringing strangers together.
We were nicely placed in the centre of town and spent our first dusk exploring the cobbled lanes and following the trail of sea smell to the shore. With towels tucked under arm, we wandered down to the sunset. I took in the horizon and opened myself up to whatever this weekend could offer me, simultaneously though I contemplated what offering I could bring.
There is something very beautiful about worshipping alongside others whom you have not had the pleasure of fully knowing. Seeing everyone unified and coming together to lay our burdens at Gods feet. I could already tell from scanning the room, this was no passive retreat, this was a group of people ready for refreshment, yes, but also ready to don the bittersweet cloak of pursuing Gods justice in community.
Despite only having two evenings and two mornings, we were not short of content. I'm sure each of us connected differently with what was shared, but for myself I noticed that each time I was posed with a challenge, I was soon after offered an opportunity to reflect, grieve or create. These ideas are not new to me, as part of the Just Love Network, the philosophy of balance (of sustaining a pursuit of justice) has always remained central to the justice mission. However, with so little time for the weekend to play with, it made these sentiments even more important to remind us of. Especially for a Network, who in the daily will be scattered across the nation away from the encouragement of each other's presence.
All of us came from such different perspectives. Some had graduations coming up, others were deep into careers. We were very blessed to hear from some locals about how justice played its role in Dunbar life. Introducing to us, mostly city dwellers, the different shapes justice practices will take as we enter new seasons. I think central to this weekend was discovering how we as a Network can connect with one another and learn from one another, as well as really taking the topics from the seminars home to our own contexts and lives.
I do look back fondly at my time, and what remains important to me is that this opportunity be not just fulfilling for myself and those I got to retreat with, but that this time would be catalyst for movement. That the knowledge gleaned from this weekend would be able to effectively bless those we seek justice for.
Find out more about upcoming events and opportunities to gather with others from the Just Love Network here. Or, grab your ticket for the 2025 National Gathering below.