2012 Couples' Retreat

Well, this year’s couples’ retreat took place at the beautiful Basking Ridge DOLCE Resort in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  Approximately twenty-two couples were present, with Pastor Brian Carter as the Facilitator.  This retreat was significant to me because it had been about four years since I last attended.  It was a last-minute decision we made to attend.  None-the-less, we arrived at the hotel about 4:30 pm on Friday, August 31; with plenty of time to settle in and get ready for dinner and Vespers at 6:00 and 9:00 pm, respectively.

                There is always drama when it came to Couples’ Retreat!  I remember the first year (about fourteen or so years ago) as if it were yesterday—the bus that we charted to transport about twenty-five couples (50 people) suffered a slight setback when the top of the bus blew off while travelling on the New Jersey Turnpike.  You see, we were going to Lancaster, PA, when this happened.  We took the whole thing in stride and had fun thinking about the lovely buses that passed our bus on the highway.  We had a GREAT time with our theme “Keeping the Fire Burning.”

                On Friday, August 31, 2012 was no exception.  Some couples got lost—taking the wrong turn; others got “stuck” in the Holland Tunnel due to traffic congestion, and others simply left their homes late so they did not reach DOLCE until late in the night.  One couple, in particular, was always late—if the meeting time is set for 7:00 p.m., they would turn up at 11:00 pm—therefore, drama is always expected at couples’ retreat.  Anyway, we ate dinner and hang around the hotel lobby on Friday evening waiting for Vespers to begin, while others were checking in and still others were trying to get some food before the hotel restaurant put away the food for the evening.

                We had Vespers and retired for the night—I slept like a baby!  We woke up bright and early on Sabbath morning, took showers and went down to the restaurant for our 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 am breakfast.  Since it was a nice relaxing night, everyone seemed happy and refreshed—people were smiling while greeting each other.  It was wonderful to see so many new faces.  We introduced ourselves and I greeted some of the gentlemen with a little neck rub, while claiming to be the retreat’s “Masseuse.”  We then went back to our rooms to get ready for our first session.  In the first hour, Elder and Sister Ewart Carter led out with me leading out in reading the Scriptures and Elder Howson offered prayer.  After that, the Facilitator took charge of the program.  He had my rapt attention, because I liked where he was going with his presentation.                

However, not too far into the presentation, an Elder asked a question about women ordination. O my goodness! Everything went in a completely different direction. The night before, that same Elder tried to engross us in the controversial topic of women ordination; but he had no luck because no "fish bit on his bait. " Well, this was his opportunity to do what he had no success doing the night before. The Facilitator entertained the subject, because he wanted to get the “dross out of the way.” The discussion went on and on until, some people started questioning the reason for the retreat and reminding everyone that the venue was not the place for the type of discussion.

After much ado, the Facilitator tried to tie in everything that was discussed as relevant to the theme—Matters that Hamper Family Relationships. —TO BE CONTINUED . 

 

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