In the Know, Vol. 37: The Power of Remembering and Celebrating at Commencement
My current mentoring group just had our Commencement Retreat. We met at a cabin in the North Georgia mountains to reflect on the nine months we spent together and all we learned about ourselves, each other, and most importantly, how God has become more real to us.
At the beginning of this mentoring season, I was ready to lead these women through the Known Collective process and eager to see how they would grow and change. However, I wasn’t prepared for the changes that occurred in me as I led and participated alongside them. After our Story Sunday, the desire to stay hidden fell away for each of us, and our relationships began to grow. As they did, we were able to engage in challenging conversations and celebrate and encourage each other along the way.
We learned so much about the character of God, our identity in Him, and how our thought lives govern the way we live. It was beautiful to see how the topics we covered built on each other month after month and presented us with real-life opportunities to put what we learned to practice in between our monthly meetings.
During our monthly meetings, our conversations often referenced past books and Scripture passages, almost as if God were making sure His foundational truth took root in each of our hearts. And to tie the journey with up a bow, we finished our season studying what Scripture says about the importance of spiritual disciplines in our lives and how we need these practices to keep the things we’ve learned front and center in our lives.
As I reflect on this season, the Commencement Retreat was one of my favorite times because it gave us space for God to show up in our midst just one more time. We were able to review and talk about the important things one more time together. And because we weren’t limited to our normal three-hour timeframe, we had more opportunities to get honest with God on an individual level, free from the distractions of our everyday life. It was an opportunity to simply be still with Him for no other reason than to be reminded that He is our God.
When it’s time for your Commencement Retreat, don’t forget to remember and celebrate all the work you have done together.
If you are leading a mentoring group, how have you seen God change parts of your life because of this experience?
If you are not currently leading a group, in what area of your life have you seen God recently begin to move and make changes? Is there someone you can share with who may benefit from your experience?
Heavenly Father, thank You for the women You have placed in my life. Help me to steward well the mentoring relationship You established between us. I ask You to show me how to lead them well and give me the courage to move forward with them. Amen.
THAT SOUNDS FUN WITH ANNIE F. DOWNS: LISA BEVERE
As women, we all need someone a little farther down the road to help us navigate our own journey. Lisa Bevere’s book Godmothers talks about just that. This fun and insightful conversation between Annie and Lisa will inspire you to begin your search for your own “godmother.” Take a listen as you run errands or walk through your neighborhood.
LIVE IN LOVE PODCAST WITH LAUREN AKINS: LIVE IN LOVE IN COMMUNITY
“To have rich community you have to be willing to be vulnerable and be open. It takes consistency to build these relationships and make it a safe place to come to.”
This podcast conversation between two friends is solid gold and hits right in the heart of what it means to create strong community in our lives. It’s a great listen for anyone wanting to build or engage in community.
Listen to their conversation here.
MENTOR LIKE JESUS: EXPLORING HOW HE MADE DISCIPLES
Create safe environments where women can bring life's deepest questions.
Known Collective provides everything you need to implement a mentoring process to help women leave comparison at the door and enter a space where they can be real and engage in conversations that matter.