Matt and Chad recently sat down together to look back at 2023, reflect on the lessons learned, and discuss what’s next. Here’s part one of that conversation:
Matt
What we're looking to do is take the steps toward a big zoom out. We’re going to see what we collectively know and have learned over the last year or so. What’s new, what’s the same?
Chad
I think one of the highlights of the year was when Alex booked me a silent retreat. So for two days, I handed in my phone. No talking, except with Dan, the spiritual director. Every day I talked to him for like 30 minutes.
I got home from tour, spent the whole week with my family, and then I went for the weekend and was completely by myself in silence.
And I went into it with no goal. I'm not looking at the future, I'm not trying to get clarity for anything. I'm just trying to be with God, meditate in his presence and accept the wins and the victories of the year. And feel them, because that's hard to do.
Because it's usually like, onto the next thing. For me, that’s generally what happens, or I feel like, well, I climbed the top of this huge mountain this year, and I'm at the top of it, and now all I can think about is where the next valley is or when I'm gonna slip on the next rock and hit the side of a cliff or something.
But taking that time to just try to fully embrace and assess and see what the journey was, was great. And it was a week after tour. It was really sweet. I don't know how I'm surviving, not doing that more often. I feel like I need to do that.
Matt
What happens normally?