Berrett-Koehler Authors Retreats are always an oasis in time. This year’s gathering, my seventh, was held October 18-21 at Pendle Hill, one of the major settings of Quaker life in the United States.
The retreats are traditionally held at retreat centers in lovely settings, some in relatively remote areas. Though Pendle Hill is located in suburban Philadelphia, the campus is so large and varied that you do not have a sense that you are in or near a big metropolitan area. BK author Ira Chaleff wrote most of The Courageous Follower, now in its third edition, at Pendle Hill 23 years ago. And although he was not at the retreat, Parker J. Palmer, whose recent BK book On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old has become a bestseller, was Dean of Studies at Pendle Hill from 1975-1985.
Variations of the “Soulful Connections” retreat theme played out throughout the four days. One of the joys of this event (which I have written about several times) is reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones. Through both organized and spontaneous activities, we experienced a powerful phenomenon: if you can get to know and understand someone more than superficially, it’s much easier to work productively with them, or to help each other. Learning more about the work of the authors was inspirational. Many have dedicated their professional lives to areas such as social justice, diversity, and to the often-vexing question of how people can work together effectively and productively so that organizations can carry out their missions.
The retreat provided a combination of learning, networking, contemplation, soul-searching, fellowship, and related values. The idea, as I see it, is to take inspiration and information in the moment, and figure out what you can apply to your life and work once the retreat is over. There was ample ‘free time,’ which for me often meant reading, walking the grounds, and discovering things like the Pendle Hill Library, which I had to myself for close to an hour after the main Friday sessions. Another nice touch was that before meals were served, the chef called us all together at the front of the dining room and described what would be served, followed by a moment of silence. I found these to be subtle, meaningful moments in the day.
