As a kinesthetic player, a few rounds of air hockey with my husband at Dave and Buster's set his birthday weekend in Play. Pacman for two, Skee Ball, virtual bowling, race car driving, and shooting basketball hoops. The evening was silly, without taking ourselves so seriously when one of us outscored the other.

God paused from his labor and rested. God blessed day seven and made it special—an open time for pause and restoration, a sacred zone of Sabbath-keeping.

God’s gaze is a call to worship from the comfort of my porch. Listening beneath the noise, resting in strength under the shelter of Heaven’s wings as I sit on my porch soaking up the Holy Spirit’s presence.

"I wonder if slowing down will be useful."

"I can slow down today."

"Try slowing down for 30 days. Slowing down is a process. It takes time. It's not easy to slow down when you're accustomed to moving physically and mentally at a rapid pace."

"May I ask about your flow?"

After one year, Heartbeat Formation, LLC continues to offer spiritual direction and soul care. As the creator and spiritual director of the practice, I am not celebrating one year but giving thanks.

That day I spoke with Jan, she noticed “my backpack was filled with things I didn’t need.” Her quiet words suggested I be gentle with myself, give myself grace. In other words, was everything I had my hands on important. Did I once again need to be reminded of Zora Neale Hurston’s words, “Black women are the mules of the world” carrying the burdens of race and gender. Or did I need to be reminded of Jesus’s grace and gentleness: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11-28-30, NRSV, MSG).

Twice, I've been asked about the origins of the Heartbeat Formation logo. Foxee Design created the logo based on my answers to her Brand Brief Exercise. Foxee, aka, Alexandria Batchelor, said “I used a retro, bold serif typeface for “formation” to create a solid, strong foundation for the logo.

The heart in the center represents the heart of the spiritual directee who will be shaped by Angela's practice. The heart drips down to make the “A” in “formation,” uniting the two words. “

5 Spiritual Formation Lessons Learned after My Home Retreat

My home retreat is intentionally time of rest, reset, and restraint.

A season and time of humility and restraint requires waiting and trusting in God, a time of answered or unanswered prayers, a season of lack and sacrifice. We have to make a physical sacrifice for spiritual gain.