The Cool Squad
Sitting here in the historic Baptist Church in Middleburg, VA, I’m delighted to be surrounded by kindred spirits—people who garden in the soil of words. A writer’s retreat has brought us together to spend time doing what we love most—writing.
After a short time of welcome, prayer, and a devotion, we scatter to private places where we can sit in silence and write. A corner in the back of the church invites me into its presence and I joyfully accept the invitation. A bright neon-colored design proclaiming ‘Cool Squad’ graces the cover of the notebook I brought to scribble my thoughts throughout the retreat. Today, I couldn’t agree more with this whimsical cover.
It just so happens the 100-year-old church is undergoing exterior renovations on the windows a few feet away from where I’m sitting. Saws are buzzing, hammers are pounding, and workers are scraping years of dirt and grime off well-worn windows. As I sit with the noise and rhythms of this renovation, I’m gently reminded I have been undergoing a renovation of my own. But not an exterior renovation. Mine has been an interior renovation of the heart. Old ways of knowing and doing are slowly being replaced with new ways of seeking after and encountering God.
For years, my Bible reading has been a pursuit of gathering information. One Bible study after another, I answered every question and filled in all the blanks. Who wrote what, to whom was it written, and why? What is the central message and how can I apply this to the context of my own life? The more I studied, the harder I tried to become like Jesus. But time after time, my efforts failed. So much information and so little transformation. Something was missing.
So when an opportunity arose to participate in a 10-week class about the spiritual disciplines and exercises developed by St. Ignatius in the 1600s, I jumped at the chance to dive deeper into the heart of God. Instead of reading about God, I began to read Scripture for the sole purpose of encountering Him. Scripture is God’s word—His voice speaking to us. Through it, He reminds us how deeply He loves us and is always with us. He speaks in gentle whispers and soft nudges, inviting us to follow where He leads.
In silence and solitude, I’ve learned to still myself. I take three long, deep breaths as I settle in for my time with Him. I put my distractions aside and let His Spirit wash over me as I begin to read. What words or phrases jump out at me? What invitations is God giving me? Who is He asking me to love more dearly or forgive more freely? Suddenly, I’m no longer an observer of Scripture. I’ve become an active participant in my own story within God’s greater story.
As the carpenter’s tools continue to refresh this historic church, my heart continues to be renewed. I’ve become more keenly aware of God’s loving presence, always at work in my ordinary, everyday life. There is a difference between knowing about God and being with God. Jesus doesn’t call us to know about Him. He calls us to abide in Him. And so here I am, my writerly heart and hands wide open to receive the words entrusted to me to share with others.
At the end of the day, we come back together to offer one another the fruit of our pondering. How has God quickened our hearts and what words has He given us that might bring life, hope and encouragement to others? As I listen to the offerings of my fellow writers, I’m amazed at their stories. A prodigal has come home, a life well-lived is celebrated, and our hearts are awakened to wonderment, beauty, and love. How cool is this? Just ask the Cool Squad.
