Letting Go

I started writing this blog on August 5, 2026, while on a Spiritual Retreat at Rivendell, Bowen Island, British Columbia:

Here I am at the labyrinth at Rivendell. The same labyrinth I took seven years ago when I was here on retreat as part of my Master of Theological Studies. This time I’m here to take a “strategic withdrawal”, as Ruth Haley Barton put it in her book, ‘Invitation to Retreat.’ 

It has been three years since my last vacation, and nine years of solo parenting. I could feel I desperately needed a true break. So, here I am. I wasn’t expecting the kind of gift of release that I got. 

As I left on the ferry yesterday towards Bowen Island, I felt an urge to take a video of leaving, and how that symbolized letting go of the old and embracing the new. This is what came to me:

Leave the past behind, and look forward toward the future. 

Philippians 3:13–14: 

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”

The journey of release started then. Today I walked the labyrinth. They say to enter the labyrinth with a question or intention. So I asked God to help me find ways to talk to him more in my day to day rhythm of life. They also say that the answer to the question you enter with may not be the same revelation you exit with. That was true for me. 

As I walked along the labyrinth, I reflected on those who walked this ground before me. The Indigenous People, the residents of Bowen Island, past retreat participants- people from all over the world. Then I reflected on these seven years that passed since I last walked this same labyrinth. 

In these past seven years, we have experienced COVID, I’ve navigated the challenges of being a single parent, gone through divorce, had some interesting dating experiences, graduated with a second Masters, grown my private practice, and bought my first house, moving from Toronto back in my hometown of Sarnia. Gosh, that’s a lot as I think about it. So much has happened. 

What I realized is that even though I have done so much personal work of healing after my divorce, I still had some grief and sadness that I was carrying. I asked God to take that from me. He doesn’t want me, or any of us, to carry burdens we don’t need to. I released it to Him. I’m so grateful we have such a caring Father who wants to relieve us from strain we are carrying. He wants to take the yoke. For Him, this burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30). I took a breath and felt lighter.

I continued through the labyrinth, turned another loop, and had to chuckle when I realized I was already nearing the end- about to enter the final loop leading to the centre circle. I couldn’t help but smile at the timing of it and the reminder of God’s perfect timing.

While in the centre of the labyrinth, and as I continued reflecting on my journey back out of the labyrinth, I asked God what He is inviting me to do moving forward- now that there has been a release of burdens and an opening to greater fulfillment and wholeness. He indicated that wants me to play with my son more, finish my yoga training, and build the yoga practice. 

As I sit here on the bench overlooking the labyrinth writing this, I feel the warm soft breeze on my skin, I hear the bees buzzing and birds chirping and flapping, and see the beautiful strong trees and labyrinth in front of me. I am truly blessed. I’m grateful God is preparing me for the next chapter in my life- ‘straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.’

Update: The night after my labrynth experience, my last night at the retreat centre, I finished my 200 hour Yoga Training program through YogaRenew! I had finished the course work for it months before, but had been slowly dabbling at the final assignment and still had the final exam to do. I was so grateful to have that final push to get it all done and handed in. I had been working on the course during whatever free time I had over the last two years. What a sense of relief, pride, accomplishment, and gratitude. 

So, keep an eye out for Christian Yoga offerings I will call ‘Moving with Melissa’ (a little play on words and homage to my move back to Sarnia). I plan to donate half to a new cause each month. Let me know of charities you can suggest. I’ll start compiling a list. 

I am so grateful to also continue to fulfill my lifelong calling of being a couples therapist. I find it to be a privilege in my life to hear people’s stories and support them in their journeys. I love the ‘dream team’ of five skilled therapists I have brought together, and proud of the work we are doing. I plan to offer more Somatic work during couples therapy, and as part of the new upcoming yoga aspect of my clinic, I plan to eventually offer Restorative Couples Yoga too. 

Additional Update: Upon further prayer the morning after returning home, I also felt a nudge towards helping other women coming out of divorce. I plan to develop an Empowerment Program for Divorced Women, that will cover strategies for how to emotionally heal from divorce, find a new sense of identity, and move stress and loss out of the body. Let me know if you would be interested in this and I will put you on the wait list for when that program is ready for release.  

And aside from doing therapy and yoga, you can find me in the evenings jumping on the trampoline with my son!

Be Well, 

Melissa