The participants of the October 2024 young adult hike retreat are seen during the retreat, which took place at the Land Between the Lakes. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
God is calling: Reflections from the Journey Hike Retreat
BY CHARLIE HARDESTY, OFFICE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
“When I joined this hiking retreat, I was not expecting the challenges that awaited me. However, I found the challenges were worth it. I came to this retreat believing, in some way, that God was calling me for something, either big or small. I felt encouraged to try something new and take the risk of leaving my comfort zone to grow in my faith. I found just that during the journey.”
These are the initial reflections from Rebekah Thuline who joined us for the October 2024 Journey Young Adult Hike Retreat at the Land Between the Lakes. She further reflected, “Many times, I faced numerous challenges and moments of exhaustion from the amount of traversing I had never done before. I felt tempted to give up and not make it to the end. However, I also had a confident voice telling me to keep going. Keep getting over those mountains and make it to the end. It was hard, and yet, with the support of the other hikers, I made it.”
During the beautiful weekend of Oct.18-20, 2024, six young adults joined myself and Dcn. Jay VanHoosier for the fourth Journey Hike Retreat. The Journey Hike Retreat is an ongoing effort for young adults to find time away from their busy lives to go on an adventure, find space for prayer and reflection, and find a community of fellow hikers navigating a similar season of life.
Mass is celebrated during the October 2024 young adult hike retreat at the Land Between the Lakes. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
Daniel Long shared, “God, silence, laughter, pilgrimage, and friends, all things the spiritual masters recommend, were found on this hike.”
Rebekah Thuline added, “What I took away from this retreat and what God might be showing through those moments is the reality that being a Christian and keeping up with my faith is going to be hard but not impossible. Just like hiking up a hill, it’s hard but not impossible. You have to get through life one step at a time, and Jesus will always be there to help you up those hills if you’re willing to push forward. Even if you feel tired and have the temptation to quit, know that the mountain will eventually stop increasing, and the satisfaction of making it to the top is worth it. God will always give us the grace to overcome challenges and do His will; it’s mind over matter.”
Our next Journey Young Adult Hike Retreat will be March 28-30, 2025. Registration will start in December. For more information about the hike retreat, go to https://owensborodiocese.org/journey-retreat.
Charlie Hardesty is the director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Owensboro.
Originally printed in the December 2024 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
