I just finished leading a 10 day intensive on Pioneering Revival for our School of Revival with just a couple weeks before diving into teaching a course on the History of Revivals at Vanguard University for the fall. I knew that my soul needs to celebrate, unplug, and be refreshed before stepping into the new season. I have always wanted to go to New Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur to get away and have some solitude and I was finally able to book a place. It’s a silent retreat up on a hill overlooking the beautiful California Coast. Their website name even represents what to expect while there: www.contemplation.com/

I booked 3 days because I knew 2 just wouldn’t be enough time to unplug. I left Orange County super early on Tuesday August 11 so that I could take my time and look for some new surf spots on the way up. As I got further up the coast, it became more and more beautiful. When I arrived at El Morro, I was blown away by the landscape. It was about noon by the time I got there after checking every potential surf spot on the way up. I ended up doing a search for the best Mexican food nearby and scored by finding 5 star Chinelo Mexican Food that had great customer service and tasty food. I even made it a point to stop there on my way back down to get some more of their incredible carne asada tacos with handmade tortillas. After that, I continued heading up north and pulled off the highway to check out another beach and could barely believe what I saw. A fun little wedge wave with only a few people out. I quickly suited up and had one of the best sessions bodyboarding I’ve had in a long time. It was very fun and I thank God for that divine set up. Then it was time for me to get checked in at the monastery so I jumped in the car and headed up to Big Sur.

Every 5 minutes I wanted to pull over to the side of the road because it was so gorgeous but the monks were waiting for me at 4:00pm so I headed straight there. I drove up a 2 mile windy road with great views to get to the hermitage. I was greeted by name and my temperature was taken before checking in. Then I unpacked my stuff in my little room where I would be based. My backyard had an ocean view. And the theme on the grounds of this hermitage was silence and solitude which are my favorites!

I didn’t feel to fast on this trip so I enjoyed my left overs from the Mexican place and later ate what the monks had provided for us. I remember the first night taking a walk part way down the driveway to this bench overlooking the coast and just sitting there for an hour or two in silence. No distractions, no cell phone reception, no internet access, just me and God. I already felt so much peace and even got clarity over something on my mind in that first evening. The next day, I went for walks, read some books, worked a little on finishing a manuscript for my next book, and simply relaxed in the beautiful and quiet surroundings. The only thing I really heard was the bells that rang a few times a day.

Wednesday and Friday the monks offered a short communion service outside of the chapel since we couldn’t meet inside the church because of Covid. It was really great to have time to reflect on the death and resurrection of Jesus with a few others there. By Thursday, I needed to go explore the coast more. We were so close to some of the most beautiful places in California and I didn’t want to miss out on enjoying these places. On Thursday, I drove down the 2 mile windy driveway and onto PCH. I went north and ended up at Andrew Molera State park and walked to the beach from there. So many other beautiful sites to see and just not enough time.

I returned to the Monastery in the afternoon for my session with the monk. He was wearing Birkenstocks under his robe. We are able to do a time of confession or spiritual advising or a mixture of both. I wanted to access God’s heart as much as possible so I signed up to do it all. We sat probably about 10 feet away because of Covid regulations and had a lovely chat. When I said I wanted to do confession, he asked me when my last confession was. Then I told him I had never officially done one like this before but I am up for trying. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” I’ve always thought there was something beautiful about the way the Catholic church practices confession that is a lost art that could be integrated in a new way into Evangelicalism. So many other aspects of the way that they live their faith is such a gift to the whole Body of Christ. I was blessed to be able to partake and learn from them.

While we continued talking, I remember sitting there and brushing the flies off of my face time and time again. When I looked across at the monk chatting with me, he sat there calmly even with flies landing on his face. That small subtlety made all the difference. Living in an unplugged environment, waking up at 4:00am to pray, and doing life in community and also solitude at the same time, allowed for a deep level of peace and calmness for these monks. It truly felt like I entered into another world. And I loved it! I already booked another retreat for next year. The drive up the coast along with a space to unplug from it all and slow down just to listen, was such a huge gift.

To top off an already epic adventure, my final night there I was blessed with a double rainbow. I wanted to scream, ring the bell, and tell everyone to come out and look at the beauty but even a whisper goes far. So I simply enjoyed with a few others in silence and was in awe at the beauty and glory of God. I don’t know that anything could have made this journey any better: an epic surf session, gorgeous views, time to unplug in a sacred space on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. I highly suggest every so often taking a few days away in silence without cell phone reception or internet just to unplug and reconnect with yourself and with God. I know it was definitely one of the best choices I made this year.

Thanks for joining my journey, may the silence, peace, rest, adventure, and fun I experienced be released over you today!

Monastery Adventures