Seeking the Peace: Friday, April 28

The retreats combine reflective walks around a Denver neighborhood, conversation about changes and trends in our city, and the practice of spiritual exercises chosen to help nurture our spiritual lives as we "seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which God has brought you" (Jeremiah 29:7).

The April retreat will be held on Denver's North Side, one of the most historic, interesting, and beautiful neighborhoods in the city. Some people also refer to that neighborhood as "The Highlands." Therein lies a challenge and an invitation: our city is changing, quickly and dramatically. These changes bring new opportunities, but some valuable things are also lost along the way. Furthermore, the opportunities and losses are not distributed evenly.

We won't solve the gentrification dilemma in one retreat, but we can identify spiritual resources to help us live well, and live together, in a time of change, division, and tension. Perhaps we can recognize our need to hold on to some old things that are being lost, and to open ourselves to new opportunities that are being offered within our own lives?

We call this retreat Playground. Many of us have been trained to see the city as a battleground – the arena of conflict between good and evil, where everything becomes a win/lose proposition. To approach the city as a playground, we are asking if there is a deeper reality than "us versus them."

Seeking the Peace is hosted by Mile High Ministries in partnership with longtime friends who have created a new organization called Centering Way.