Dear friends,

During a recent road trip, I needed a place to wrap up some work — somewhere quieter than a coffee shop and with a good internet connection.

What luck! I’d be driving right by my alma mater. My old stomping grounds at the campus library would be the perfect spot. This thrilled my nerdy little heart. There’s something about that space — the light, the orderly stacks, that old book smell, the muffled sounds of scholarship — for me, it all just works.

I wonder what spaces work for you. Where do you go to focus? To connect with a friend face to face? To breathe deeply? To rest?

It’s a fact of human nature that physical space can help or hinder our pursuits — including how we interact with God. ​“Come away with me,” Jesus beckons. Find the atmosphere that helps you step into God’s invitations.

Think of some of the settings Jesus carefully selected for himself and his friends:

Rocky Judean wilderness
The bustling Temple complex 
A municipal pool echoing with cries of desperate people 
A friend’s home big enough for the whole crew
A familiar trail through the Kidron Valley and Mount of Olives
An upstairs dining space for special occasions
A quiet spot under the stars in the Gethsemane garden
A sunrise campfire on the beach

See how Jesus harnessed physical space to support renewal? He picked spaces that fit his purpose — solitary spots for his own restoration, places to gather his followers for intimate teaching, open fields to teach and show his love to thousands.

We can meet with God anywhere. But when we hear him say ​“come away with me,”we know that something special is in store.

In seven weeks, Renovaré’s Ministry Team and staff will be holding open a space for renewal — a place for you to come away from your regular routine for three days of spiritual refreshment. There is space to gather around tables, in front of a cross, on patios, in classrooms, and on nature trails. And there are spots for solitude, as well. Each backdrop supports a particular grace-filled offering at this year’s RēGathering in Denver, June 8 – 10.

If you can’t make it to Denver, I encourage you to mark ​“come-away” time on your calendar this summer. Schedule a half day… a day… two days… and go somewhere for the express purpose of being with Jesus and finding rest for your soul.