Summer Retreat 2018 Part Two - Conversation #8 Chuck DeGroat no. 24

This episode, Part Two of the Introduction to the Summer Retreat 2018, is a conversation with Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. The Summer Retreat is a journey through prayers of the heart, mind, soul, and strength. These two introductory episodes first consider questions around loving God with “all,” questions of Wholeheartedness, the title of Chuck’s book. Josh and Chuck discuss this book while also beginning to map out what a spirituality of summer might involve: being present and aware in counter-cultural ways that disrupt rhythms of busyness, rush and fragmentation. In the opening of this episode, Josh asks listeners to be patient with the necessary intimidations of going on retreat to approach God. On one hand the Invitation seeks to be an approachable path toward prayer, a safe and hopeful space. Yet on the other, prayer is interaction with the Living God whose love is enormous and by nature, intimidating. As Mr. Tumnus spoke to Lucy about Aslan in the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe, “He’s not safe but he’s good.” The summer retreat intends two movements: 1. to help you learn more about your own unique spirituality type—your call to prayer. And 2. it also intends to help you stretch beyond yourself to gain a more vast knowledge of God as beautiful and holy, closer to us than we are to ourselves (St. Augustine) yet beyond our understanding. Stay tuned for the next episode, a spiritual conversation with a group of younger pastors to discuss prayers of the heart.