A large part of our business is weddings. And we LOVE weddings. But as wonderful, beautiful, and heartwarming as they are, the reason for said celebration is the beginning of a marriage. Marriage is our true passion, and that goes far beyond the bounds of one single day. Even though we would say our own marriage is great/amazing/the “best” most days, we’re still learning about this incredible covenant that God has blessed us with, and what that calling is all about. One way that we have been able to focus on growth in our relationship, is through CONNECT: A Retreat for Creatives in Business Together.
A week has passed since Kelly and I attended the retreat, and we’re still processing the experience and searching for the words to describe exactly what we took away from those few days at Winshape. This was the second year of CONNECT, and the second time that we attended (you can read our recap of year one here). And of course we’re already hoping and praying that we will be able make the journey to Rome, GA again in the future.
A part of 26,000 acres of wildlife preserve, the retreat center is a ways off the beaten path. In other words, you don’t just happen by it driving down the highway. And that’s pretty perfect because not one of the 35 couples at CONNECT were there by accident. Each had a unique story of why, what, and how we were brought to this place. Some couples were there hoping to find balance between the demands of owning a business and keeping God and family a priority. Some simply looking to be refreshed. Some were there as a last resort to save their marriage. And the list goes on… Although each of us came from different walks of life, we all had one thing in common – well two if you count that we are all creatives in business with our spouse. But more importantly, we were there to intentionally focus on our marriage. With open eyes, ears, and hearts, we showed up ready to be moved.
And moved we were.
The speakers/facilitators for the retreat happen to be amazingly talented industry leaders and teachers, Zach & Jody Gray, Michael & Katelyn James Alsop, and Jeffrey & Julia Woods. I have to admit, we get a little starstruck in their presence and we find ourselves saying things like, “We sat by Zach at lunch today!”, “Katelyn took a picture with my camera.”, and yes, even “Julia accidentally took a drink out of my cup!”… And yet the entire experience had nothing to do with how amazing the speakers were. Instead the focus was on the amazing-ness of the truth that was poured into our lives. And how all the glory belongs to the Lord. The honesty and intensity with which that truth was spoken rocked us to the core, and we are forever grateful for the willingness of each individual who shared that piece of their lives with us.
Relationships were taken deeper than they’ve ever been. Lives were transformed. Marriages were restored – praise the Lord!
God moved each and every one of us.
We learned a lot over the course of those few days in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and came home with takeaways for both our marriage and our business. (For a breakdown on the topics each of the speakers spoke on, please see the recaps by our friends Chad & Amber and Ben & Sabrina. They did far better at summarizing than I could.) It was incredibly refreshing to spend time in that environment, away from the chaos of life, and connecting with other like-minded couples.
I think, though, the most significant thing we can share with you is this… The pursuit of success according to the world is not our mission in life. This business does not belong to us, it belongs to God. We are called to be committed to our spouse, even though they will inevitably let us down from time to time. No matter how wonderful we think they are, our spouse cannot be our everything – they weren’t designed to be and it isn’t fair to expect them to be. Marriage isn’t always easy. It takes intentionality. It takes work. God first. Marriage second. Family, other relationships, and then our business.
Those aren’t all new concepts to us. But coming away from CONNECT, we have a renewed sense of responsibility to make them a priority and we’re anxious to implement those along with the other lessons we’ve learned.
Our small group was a highlight of our week and it was a blessing to get to know these amazing couples. After just a few short days, these talented folks felt like family and even though they all live far away, we’re determined to stay in touch with each and every one of them (thank you, technology!) and God-willing, meet up again soon.
(Thanks to Katelyn James for snapping this image of our group!)
(left to right…) We were fortunate to meet Josh & Danielle briefly over dinner at last year’s retreat, and I was instantly drawn to them. It was incredible to get to know them on a deeper level and hear even more of their story. They’ve truly touched our hearts and we are so excited to see how God continues to use them and their business! Chad & Amber were also return “Connecters” whom we regrettably had only spoken with in passing before. They are an inspiration and we know that we were placed in the same group as them by nothing short of Divine design. Caleb & Maison carried the title of “The Engaged Couple” throughout the retreat. They will be joining the marrieds club this August, and even for those of us with years of marriage behind us, there’s so much that can be learned from their courage and desire to follow the Creator’s plan for their lives. Ben & Sabrina are full of warmth and kindness, are incredibly sweet together, and within just a few seconds of meeting them, we were already grateful that they had been placed in our lives.
-m
