taking a 24-hour prayer retreat, part three

3. Packing to go

You've chosen the date and made your reservation. Now I'd like to offer some thoughts for packing light, physically and emotionally:

• Pack your favorite bible, plenty of pens, pencils, and markers, perhaps a concordance, and a journal.
  
• Carefully select a few books that you feel would nourish your spirit. My favorites are Practicing the Presence by Brother Lawrence and In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen.
• Please, please, consider making this retreat a no-media, low-tech zone. In other words, if it powers up, leave it home.
  
• Exceptions could include a laptop if it's (really) your journal and your cell phone for emergencies.
  
• Set up an auto-respond for email, commit to not use your phone except for emergencies, and alert your closest circle of friends that you need their help guarding this space.
• Give some thought to your retreat surroundings. What would be relaxing for you?
  
• Consider bringing a guitar or hiking boots, some painting supplies or bubble bath, good teas or specialty coffees...
• Some may ask, "Why not bring a good movie?" Primarily because there seems to be a difference between resting and escaping. I really enjoy a good movie. But for a prayer retreat I ask myself, "Can I truly talk with God and listen for His voice while doing ______?" If the answer is no, I leave it at home.
• What about music? You may want to consider a recorded-music fast for your first few retreats. Music is often a filler for us and part of a prayer retreat is rediscovering the power of silence. But obviously this is up to you. 14 years into the discipline of monthly prayer retreats, I occasionally bring my ipod loaded with worship music but my guess is I've only actually used it once in the last year.
• You also may want to bring ear plugs or your pillow if you're a light sleeper and of course all the stuff your mom always reminded you about (sunscreen, bug off, medicines...)