Highlights from Goldenwood’s Fallow Retreat in Cambridge, UK (May 2024)
As forty-two individuals from cities across the globe gathered in a cozy meeting room each morning on the beautiful grounds of Jesus College Cambridge, a palpable sense of anticipation and openness filled the air. This was no ordinary conference or training event–it was an intentional invitation to step out of the frenetic pace of everyday life and enter into a sacred rhythm of rest, reflection, and community.
“When you hear fallow, you first think it’s really counterintuitive to productivity. And yet, when you consider the natural seasons of trees or the agricultural processes to produce crops effectively and efficiently and abundantly, then you realize, oh my goodness, that is actually what we’re meant to do as well.”
The essence of a fallow retreat lies in embracing the inherent value of rest and recognizing that seasons of non-productivity can be essential for long-term growth and sustainability. Inspired by the agricultural practice of allowing land to lie fallow and rest, our goal for these four days was that each participant would experience a deep sense of replenishment, inspiration, and reawakening, ultimately leading to greater productivity, creativity, and spiritual vitality in the seasons to come.
The rhythms of the retreat were simple, but profoundly meaningful. Each day began with a time of guided meditation and prayer, as the group was led in practices of slowing down, becoming attentive, and opening themselves to the presence of the Trinue God.
Throughout the day, there were ample opportunities for solitary contemplation, whether it was wandering the grounds of the Jesus College campus, journaling in cafes, or simply finding a quiet bench to sit and gaze at the surrounding natural beauty. Yet the retreat was also infused with a spirit of warm community, as participants shared meals together, punted along the River Cam, swapped stories over cups of coffee, and engaged in thought-provoking discussions about the intersection of faith, work, and societal renewal.
“I am in a season of work right now where it just feels very go, go, for good reasons, but it has started to feel a little bit like a hamster wheel. And so just being able to come here, turn off notifications, turn off email, and just slow down… these three days have felt so rich and in some ways slower because I was able to turn off my work brain, and begin to turn on and say yes to new invitations and ways of being. I really loved that.”
Several speakers catalyzed these discussions–including Goldenwood CEO David Kim, and the newly announced Deans of the forthcoming Goldenwood Institute: Makoto Fujimura, Sandra McCracken, and Haejin Shim Fujimura–casting a bold vision for enlivening the purpose, practice, and hoped-for goals of our work. Rather than seeing it purely as a means to an end, they challenged the group to envision a world where work is not just a means of earning a living, but a creative and fulfilling expression of our humanity. Guided by a robust theology of creation, work, and renewal, they emphasized the importance of a meaningful integration of spiritual formation, imagination, nature, and justice–critical yet often missing elements that expand our vision for what work could be.
The retreat culminated in the unveiling of the Goldenwood Collective–an ongoing community of practice that will seek to nurture contemplation, innovation, and courageous action across multi-disciplinary, multi-generational, and geographical divides. By promoting a vision of work that embodies manifold expressions of love, the Collective empowers individuals to make a meaningful impact where they are, cultivating hope and long-term vision in our workplaces and communities. This initiative was met with palpable enthusiasm, as many participants expressed a deep hunger to be part of a movement that is rooted in both spiritual formation and social transformation.
As the final goodbyes were said and the group dispersed back to our respective homes and callings, there was a sense that the Goldenwood Fallow Retreat had planted seeds that would continue to germinate and bear fruit in the days and years to come. For in this sacred pause, we had reconnected with the wellspring of meaning, purpose, and hope–the Spirit of God whose very presence will continue to infuse the rhythms of our everyday lives, enlivening our work.
To learn more about joining the Goldenwood Collective and getting involved in this catalytic vision for renewal, explore the vision here or reach out to our team at info@goldenwoodnyc.org. We’re excited and hopeful about the future… Join us!