All you who are thirsty,
Come to the water!
Come to me heedfully,
Listen, that you may have life.
I will renew you with my everlasting covenant.

• Isaiah 55

Such words of invitation invite us to heed the thirst in our own hearts. What is it I am needing? For what do I thirst in the midst of my own life? These questions beg for time and space and the quiet reflection that only happens when we choose to move away from busyness and to risk the journey inward.

Here at Christ the King Retreat Center, built on the bluffs of Lake Buffalo, we offer just such a place away for those desiring to respond to the invitation God offers. An unknown poet once commented that those who sit long and contemplatively along the water's edge can't help but be greatly influenced. The waters draw us deeply into the mystery of our own life's journey.

Heed me and you shall eat well,
You shall delight in rich fare.

That which nourishes our bodies also nourishes and replenishes our spirits. The delicious home-cooked meals served at King's House will indeed feed the human hunger so that you are freed to pay attention to the hunger of your spirit in gentle ways!

For just as from the heavens
The rain and snow come down.
So shall my word be
That goes forth from my mouth.

Encourage the contemplative in yourself! The nooks and crannies and many quiet spaces at Christ the King allow you to listen deeply to the voice of God.

Yes, in joy you shall depart,
in peace you shall be brought back.

Renewed by God's spirit and the time away, retreatants leave King's House renewed, refreshed, and challenged to take the gift of time away back to their homes and lives. Having connected with God, self, and others on the journey they go forth with the blessings they have received!