Reflections on Retreat & Bumper Stickers

Posted on November 20, 2022 | Posted by Mary Stoneback

Recently a group of high school youth attended Rainbow Trail’s High School Retreat November 18-20 in Hillside, Colorado. High Junior, Austin Coltrin, offers his thoughts on the experience.

I’m really glad to have gone on the weekend retreat this year! Despite how cold it got up there, the opportunities we got to spend out in nature and in activities and worship with others were definitely worth it. I really enjoyed hearing the Keynote Speaker, Pastor Jay’s sermons as well. One statement that especially stood out to me was how many of life’s issues can’t be addressed with simple “bumper sticker” advice like, “it’s all part of God’s plan” or “everything happens for a reason.” Instead of “everything happens for a reason,” Pastor Jay said that a more helpful version is “everything happens,” and through it all, it’s okay to not know the solution and to ask for help. At our closing worship, we used glow sticks to highlight how in our brokenness, the places we feel weak or hurt and experience pain, God’s love shines through. God is with us and we are not alone. I’m grateful for this promise. ~Austin Coltrin