A Stream in the Desert
Creating Restful Spaces in the Middle of Chaotic Realities
Written by Kate Hutchison
Edited by Shari Martin
Introduction by Shari Martin
For military families, finding time to rest and reconnect with loved ones can be challenging. Kate Hutchison, whose husband Ben serves as an active-duty military chaplain, shares how a few days at EdenRidge with longtime friends became an opportunity for much-needed rest, meaningful fellowship, and a renewed appreciation for creating peaceful spaces amid the demands of everyday life.
Here is Kate’s story:
We are a military family who have been blessed with what I call “spirit friends” from our very first assignment. Our kids, and even the adults, were able to grow up together as neighbors through two different assignments. The Lord saw fit to assign our husbands to the same base twice!
Eventually, military life took our families to different parts of the country. So, when I learned that our friends’ whole family would be traveling for a work trip, I was more than ready to tell them about a lovely place I had heard about where we could all afford to stay, rest, and spend a few days together.
That place was EdenRidge.
The 10 of us, ranging from age 1 to 40, stayed together in Cabin 7. We found space to play, rest well, and feast together. We were grateful for the attentiveness and care we felt in each thoughtfully planned detail, from the stocked kitchen and abundant dining space to the comfortable sleeping arrangements, screened porches with gorgeous views, and grounds where we could explore or simply sit for a while.
Cabin 7
But our time at EdenRidge offered us something deeper than a comfortable place to reconnect.
When we were asked to share our story at the EdenRidge team breakfast, I volunteered my husband, Ben, knowing I wouldn't make it through without tears. Tears of gratitude for being seen by God through the eyes of strangers. Tears of exhaustion. And tears of joy for the work we've been given.
I was surprised when Ben became emotional as he shared. In that moment, I realized the Lord had given him an opportunity, removed from the work to name some of the painful burdens he helps our service members bring to Christ, as well as the ones he brings to Christ alone because many don't want God's help.
For me, the experience prompted a different kind of reflection.
Being able to offer our home and a spirit of rest, peace, and creativity are gifts I am offering to God with each new community we become a part of. I was inspired by the intentionality all around me at EdenRidge. As I explored there, and now as I remember at home, I'm praying through how to create restful spaces in the middle of chaotic realities.
That desire for rest didn't begin at EdenRidge. When Ben joined the military as an active-duty chaplain six years ago, we realized our family needed restful rhythms if we were going to be able to support him and answer the call to love our community in spontaneous ways as needs arose.
We started small, but with a clear intention.
Today, Sabbath is like a stream in the desert for us. Investing in a few meaningful relationships gets a line in our budget because those relationships require travel. Making time for hobbies and rest throughout the week has also become a hospitable way to invite in others who need to be known and loved.
Our time at EdenRidge gave us another opportunity to experience that kind of intentional rest ourselves.
Two weeks after returning home, the consensus between our families was already clear: “Same time next year.”
Next time, we won't wait for our paths to cross. We'll intentionally plan for the rest and fellowship we were able to experience together at EdenRidge.
We are grateful for the opportunity to step away from the work long enough to experience abiding peace, reflect on our challenging ministry context, enjoy the gift of friendship, and simply rest together.
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“Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” Psalm 66:5 (NIV)
Was your stay meaningful? We'd love to hear how God used your time at EdenRidge.
Email us at rest@edenridge.org and we'll schedule a short conversation with you.