We were forewarned that the food at this retreat wouldn’t be the “fine dining” experience we had previously. This time, it would be Asian cuisine, served buffet-style. But to our pleasant surprise, Maple Catering exceeded expectations. The change turned out to be a positive one—the food was satisfying and well-prepared.
People come to retreats to seek God, but they also come with bodies. A good night’s rest and nourishing meals help prepare us for prayer.
What stood out most were the retreatants themselves—serious seekers of God. Each person had a different reason for coming and a different grace they were longing for. But what they shared was a deeply moving sense of intentionality and sincerity.
The accommodations were simple yet sufficient. Each room had two single beds and an attached bathroom—nothing luxurious, but clean and conducive to rest and reflection. The air conditioning unit was old but still manageable. I spent most of my personal prayer time in the room, and it served its purpose well.
I must commend the TTC admin staff for their excellent support throughout the retreat. From publicity to registration, from welcoming retreatants to ensuring meals were served smoothly, they handled everything competently. Their attentiveness to feedback was evident, too; the spiritual direction rooms were much improved from the last time.
The retreat was led by Rev Dr Jimmy Tan and Rev Dr Niam, with Kim Lee and I serving as supporting spiritual directors. Though it was only our second time working together at Retreats @ TTC, the team dynamic was strong and encouraging.
Personally, I found the guided meditations especially rich and nourishing. As they say, the first step in training is to observe the masters. Watching experienced retreat leaders guide meditations in such diverse ways—and reflecting on both my reactions and those of the retreatants—was a privilege. I learned so much. I gathered insights and resources that I will continue to draw from.
A heart-warming moment came when one of the retreatants told me he was the son of a couple, John and Joyce Seet, who were church leaders of an Anglican church. I preached in their church camp 15 years ago. I was so thrilled that I took a selfie with him. (You can read more about that church camp HERE.)
After two full days and one night, we wrapped up the retreat with farewells and a team debrief, taking time to evaluate how the retreat went and how we might improve in future.
It was a joy and privilege to serve in this sacred ministry. The experience reaffirmed my calling as a spiritual director. I returned home tired, but deeply satisfied. I was so absorbed in the work that I completely forgot I had committed to a game of pickleball with my wife, daughter, and some church friends! So after a quick dinner, we went off to the outdoor court.