Reflections From Those We Serve

” My wife and I had a bucket list event that we got to check off in Northern California thanks to Shepherds’ Door. We were invited to attend a retreat at Scott River Lodge so we went but with the main goal of seeing the Redwood National Park. When we pulled up to the park, it was breathtaking. The redwoods were everywhere and standing over 200 feet in the sky. We took a hike through the trees with our necks craned to the sky taking in the majesty of their design. As we came to the center of this trailhead, a park ranger took the time to share about the tallest tree in this park standing over 300 ft high. We could not see the top of the tree from below. The ranger shared how the redwoods have a very unique root system to support the heights of these trees. The roots of these behemoth redwoods are intertwined and this locking root system gives them the strength to support one another in the storms that fly in from the coast but, the really amazing miracle of this root system…the roots are grafted together so that the healthy trees can help share resources through the roots to strengthen struggling trees that have been attacked by disease and other outside influences. God’s perfect design of how He desires the church to be to our world. And we saw God’s design for his church at Scott River Lodge. After 29 years in ministry, it was such a ray of hope and renewal for my wife and I.

God had a goal for my wife and I at Scott River Lodge. To be honest, when I was invited to a couple’s retreat, I had thoughts of sitting around in circles with a bunch of people I don’t know to answer questions that I really did not care to share with 100 strangers. I was wrong. We pulled up to the breathtaking Scott River Lodge and were greeted by a couple leaders of the retreat and guided to a beautiful lodge. When we entered, I found out this retreat was for my wife and I. The focus was on what we wanted the design of our lives to be and the legacy we wanted to leave to our children and grandchildren with God’s Love and guidance. It wasn’t 50 couples, it was 6. It wasn’t all day of staring at each other and digging up past hurts caused by others or each other but 4 hours in the morning of walking through life goals for our future together. Then walking outside and taking in all the scenic nature around through hiking to the cross for a devotional time…to e-biking mountain roads…to kayaking on a crystal clear Scott River…to ATV riding to the top of the mountain…to just taking in all of God’s creation. Each evening was filled with the most fabulous food and fellowship that I have ever experienced. So much laughter and just reflecting on the time in God’s Word and God’s plan for the next chapters in our lives. We left with a plan for our future and renewed spirits to continue serving in Kingdom building together. And a new root system of support to help us in the storms and a graft of resources to help provide accountability and prayer and love in action.

We experienced Ephesians 3:17-19…17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; 18-19 and may you be able to feel and understand,

as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high his love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. “

Shepherd’s Door blessed my us with a couple’s retreat to Scott River Lodge in the fall of 2025, and it was an absolutely fabulous experience for body, soul and spirit! Perched on the mountainside above the river, the lodge and guest room buildings are “cabin chic”–rustic, elegant, cozy, calming. We loved our group conversations around the large stone fireplace. We had memorable meals together–fresh, professional-chef-gourmet quality dining. The staff were so attentive, kind, and genuine…from the moment we arrived to the day we left they made us feel welcomed and loved.

And, there you are in the mountains of far Northern California’s Klamath National Forest…of course all I can think of is Psalm 19.1, “the heavens declare the glory of God.” So beautiful and peaceful, yet rugged and fearsome at the same time. It’s the kind of setting that draws you into thinking harder and deeper about the big questions of your life, and helps you get perspective.

Which is exactly what the overall retreat experience provided…perspective on the direction we want to go together as a couple during our next season of life and ministry. The facilitators guided us (and sometimes pushed us when needed) through a time-tested process of developing our dreams, goals, and plans–all based on seeking the Lord’s direction at each step.

Of course, the community aspect of our time was hugely important. Friendships grew that made an eternal imprint on our hearts and minds. We laughed, we cried, we prayed, and we shared our hopes and dreams in such profound and memorable ways. We had fun together too: mountain biking (eBikes, yeah!), skeet and target shooting, archery, kayaking, ATVs, trail hikes…it was a great adventure.

We are so grateful to Shepherd’s Door…after 35 years in various ministry roles, this was an experience we never dreamed we could have, and we will cherish the time we had there forever.