Have you ever heard the word ‘retreat’ or attended a retreat event? In Christian understanding, a retreat is a familiar concept, often involving withdrawal or taking a step back. It means taking time for solitude or isolation to reflect on life and nurture spiritual faith in God.

In Christian spirituality, Jesus exemplified a form of retreat by withdrawing from the crowd to pray, both at dawn and night. Several references highlight this practice:

• "And when he had sent the crowd away, Jesus went up on a mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone" (Matthew 14:23).
• "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up and went out. He went to a solitary place and prayed there" (Mark 1:35).
• "But He withdrew to solitary places and prayed" (Luke 5:16).

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I am delighted to accompany the Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) of SMA N 1 Wonosari, Gunungkidul, in a retreat on January 25-26, 2025. This retreat is an opportunity to rebuild spiritual life, which forms a solid foundation for personal development, even since youth. The event focuses on reflecting on faith, especially obedience. Obedience means acting according to instructions, rules, or laws. One early example of obedience in the Bible is Noah (Genesis 6).

Noah's exemplary obedience teaches us valuable lessons:

1.   Command: God commanded Noah to build a large ark and gather all the animals in pairs in anticipation of a great flood.

2.  Strong Faith: Despite never having seen such an event, Noah trusted God's command and began building the ark without hesitation.

3.  Difficult Task: Constructing the ark as specified required tremendous effort, sincerity, precision, dedication, and could take several years.

4.   Facing Sceptics: Noah endured negative voices, scepticism, and ridicule from those who did not believe in the coming flood but remained steadfast in his obedience.

5.  Results: By faithfully following God's instructions, Noah and his family survived the flood, while others did not.

The relevance of obedience in students' daily lives is evident in how they follow government laws, spiritual (religious) guidelines, family expectations, organizational or school regulations, and societal norms. Noah's example teaches us that true faith is demonstrated through obedience, even when commands are challenging to comprehend. Obedience becomes the foundation for progress, instilling the belief that following God's commands leads to success.***