Tactical Withdrawal

 

I love words. I love that one word can have many meanings. It is one of the interesting quirks of the English Language, and I’m sure not exclusive to English. One word can even have both positive and negative usages. As writers we can ensure that words mean what we want them to mean using context. Context is so important.

Take, for instance, the word ‘retreat’.

Retreat (Verb)

To withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat.

To move back or withdraw.

Now I am a history lover, and that is partially the fault of my Dad, who is an avid amateur military historian. He has a room in his home set aside for his  obsession  interest. The walls are lined with thousands of miniature hand painted soldiers, of all eras – Napoleonic, Civil War, Roman Legionaries, World War II Infantrymen. The centre of the room is taken up by a battle board, on which, over the years, Dad has re-enacted many famous military engagements. In a military sense the word ‘retreat’ must have only negative connotations, surely?. We’ve likely all seen those vivid film depictions  – the battle scene where the losing commander cries ‘retreat’ and the soldiers flee the field. And are pursued and defeated. Retreating is portrayed as being driven by fear and self-preservation, cowardly even.

But a quick conversation with a military historian will soon paint a different picture. Sometimes retreats are good, even military ones! Very many of the most famous battles in history involved ‘strategic retreats’. At the Battle of Waterloo, for example. On the first day of fighting Napoleon had successfully divided the British troops from their Prussian allies and driven the Prussians back before engaging the British. But Wellington, seeing that Napoleon had the advantage, ordered a retreat. To a village called Waterloo. Giving time for the Prussian army to regroup and re-join the British. And the next day… well we know what happened then. Napoleon met his Waterloo.

The Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, 1815. Image courtesy of the National Army Museum

Retreat (Noun)

‘a quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax.’

‘a period or place of seclusion for the purposes of prayer and meditation.’

These are far more pleasing definitions of the word retreat. A retreat in this sense is a good thing. A withdrawal from the busyness of life to rest and recuperate. To take some time for yourself. To pray and meditate, and think and dream, and write maybe. It would never be considered a cowardly thing to do.

We are planning a Writing Retreat this summer. We have great hopes that it will be a quiet place and space for people to rest and relax. We are sure there is going to be plenty of prayer and meditation – and inspiration and writing. But there is also hopefully a sense of it offering a strategic retreat. Sometimes writing feels like a battleground. And often times we feel that defeat is threateningly close. The inspiration has dried up. The direction of our writing is unclear. Imposter syndrome paralyses us and we wonder why we bother to write at all. And yet God is the perfect commander. Maybe there are times when He asks us to retreat. To stop and step back. To spend time resting and seeking His direction. What better place to do this that with a group of allies – of like minded people committed to the same end? That of seeing God glorified through our writing.

Of course you don’t have to go on a physical retreat to do all this. But I for one am really looking forward to being a part of this special time away. I wonder whether you consider retreating a good thing or a bad thing? Is it all a bit self indulgent? It might have to involve sacrifice, leaving responsibilities behind for a few days, putting additional pressure on other family members or family finances. It is something we definitely have to prayerfully consider. But if we really want to be effective. If we really want our writing to count for eternity, surely it is a good thing to take time to step back, to withdraw. That might mean attending an organised retreat, or going to a retreat centre. It might look like a long walk, or a pilgrimage even. It might just be taking a day or a week to stop what we are writing, and to spend time with God. To regroup and get strengthened and newly inspired. To get our strategic direction from Him.

What does retreat look like for you? What sort of retreat appeals most? What would a good retreat include for you? Do you think writers need retreats?  I’d love to know your thoughts.

 Joy Margetts writes Christian Historical Fiction. Her debut novel 'The Healing' was published in March 2021, and her second ‘The Pilgrim’ in July 2022. She makes her home in beautiful North Wales and takes her inspiration from its rich spiritual history and stunning landscapes. She is also wife, mother and grandmother and a lover of the Word of God. Her personal blog and more information about her books can be found here www.joymargetts.com