Kairos Malena Marcase

I watch quietly as one of my peers speaks at the podium, exposing the inadequacies of her life, and pouring her heart out for all to view. When she is through with her story, everyone lines up to share embraces and offer a kind word. Everyone is accepted here; everyone is caring. There is a sense of love like I’ve never seen before, an energy that pulsates between every person in this room. I am at Kairos. Kairos, meaning “God’s time,” is a weekend retreat held at the Church of Ascension. It is a three-day adventure for juniors and seniors to come closer to God and to better understand themselves. No cell phones or any kind of technology allowed – not even a watch. Kairos is a mini vacation from the outside world, a time to just let God speak to your heart.

On Friday, the first day of Kairos, I knew absolutely nobody on the retreat. I spent the first few hours or so timidly introducing myself and trying desperately to make a few friends. However, I soon learned that I had no reason to be nervous. We listened to a few of the retreat leaders give their testimonies, and I immediately felt so refreshed by hearing the amazing ways that God had worked through each one of their lives. The leaders emphasized over and over again how...