Bono, George W Bush, and PP&G Retreats

How did this photo happen?!?

First, I’m sorry to say that neither President Bush nor Bono will be guides on a future PP&G retreat. haha.

How did this photo happen?

I love this photo of President Bush and Bono together, smiling. It’s remarkable when you think about it. In 2017, former president Bush was quite unpopular after his last term, and Bono was one of the biggest rock stars on the planet. One was part of a conservative American political dynasty, while the other fronted an Irish rock band known for protest.

So why are they smiling together? How did this unlikely partnership form?

They were committed to a shared purpose. Both men dedicated themselves to ending the AIDS epidemic in Africa. And by 2017, their united work had saved tens of millions of lives. Did they agree on many other issues? Probably not. Did they need to pretend they were the same? Of course not.

What they were FOR was crystal clear and much more compelling than the important but secondary issues that would divide them.

Tribes and Silos

I've heard it said that conservatives don't want to be polluted by the evil of liberals, and liberals don't want to be complicit in the evil of conservatives. Acknowledging the very real disagreements that have real life consequences, this kind of Us vs. Them tribalism keeps our leaders from working together to solve problems. And let’s be honest, tribalism isn’t just a political issue. We can see highly defended theological and ideological silos all over the Christian Church. And these divisions keep us from working together to join God’s healing and redemption of all things.

Said simply: Each Christian tradition is good but limited. Important but only one part of the whole Body. We need each other—personally and collectively—to grow up into the fullness of Christ. One’s strength balances out another’s weakness, and another’s insight fills in one’s blindspot. We need each other!

The Heart of PP&G Retreats

This desire for unity amid diversity is at the very heart of a PP&G Retreat. We are intentionally and passionately ecumenical, welcoming nearly every part of the wider Christian family—from Pentecostal to Episcopal, Baptist to Evangelical, post-Evangelical to Catholic, Presbyterian and beyond. We have queer folk worshiping with non-affirming folk, women and men serving together at every level, those who love the incense of the cathedral and those who love the smoke machine of the worship band. Each person's story contributes to a bigger, more diverse, more nuanced, more beautiful whole.

Yet as compelling as the ecumenical approach can be, it is not the goal. The goal of every PP&G Retreat is to get swept into the Way of Jesus Christ, as seen in the scriptures and church history, and as we’ve experienced in the prayers, rest, practices, teaching, and solidarity of retreat.

Can we Unite without Pretending?

To join together, must we pretend that we all believe the exact same things about every issue? Of course not. Which is good because we don’t! Instead, we are unapologetically uniting around the Way of Jesus Christ. And as we seek to put Jesus' words into practice, we believe that God can bring the rest and healing that we all desire. We believe that the Living of Christ can connect us in solidarity with other parts of his Body. We believe that the Holy Spirit can fire our imaginations for new ways to be God's hands and feet on this troubled earth.

We come from nearly every corner of the Christian family, but we are united around the peace-making, neighbor-serving, enemy-loving Way of Jesus. And you are welcome to join us.

Friend, there is room for you. There is room here at Between Retreats. There is room in Chicago on June 9-11 and Malibu on November 17-19. And in this motley, messy, glorious Body of Christ on earth, there is room for you.

Grace and peace,
Aaron

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