When Peace Meets You
Where Your Feet Are

At the Big Red Barn Retreat, we often focus on the work of healing through Warrior PATHH, Struggle Well, and the rigorous journey of posttraumatic growth. But recently, I was reminded the most profound healing often happens when we simply stop and breathe.

While sharing lunch on Main Street with Lyle, a Warrior PATHH graduate navigating his own path of mortality with incredible grace, something extraordinary happened. The Monks’ Walk for Peace walked past our sidewalk lunch table, which wasn’t planned. The monks diverted from their original route, bringing them directly through the heart of downtown Columbia. It felt as though peace itself had changed its course just to find us.

Lyle and I sat with a shared silence while the wave of the crowd followed the monks like an entourage of fans, but it was in that moment the peace we strive for at the retreat converged with the peace sought by those walking across the country, and the peace that Lyle and I needed. It was a powerful reminder that the world has a way of meeting us exactly where our feet are… when we “Trust The Process”.

The Big Red Barn Retreat is more than a place; it is a community held together by hearts dedicated to service. Just as the monks walk to spread peace, our volunteers spread hope and compassion. We invite you to join this mission. Whether you are tending our gardens, resetting our facility and programs, or maintaining the tranquility of our grounds, your time is a vital gift to those we serve.