Elevare, 2940 Prudhomme Road, Lafayette, LA (2026)

10/15/2026

𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 "𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴" 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗯𝗶𝘁.

After today's INTEGRATED Leaders Cohort gathering at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, I took a little walk around the grounds.

The weather was too beautiful to rush to leave, and my heart was overflowing with gratitude. 💛

Grateful for these leaders who intentionally make room each month to step away from their responsibilities, reflect on their lives, deepen their relationship with the Lord, and do the necessary work to grow in how they lead in all aspects of their lives.

There's something special about having this retreat environment for a journey that is both spiritual and deeply practical. A place to slow down, listen, learn, and then return to the people and responsibilities entrusted to us with greater clarity and intention.

💙Today, I simply wanted to savor it a little longer with the Lord.

10/12/2026

“𝗜 𝗱𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟳 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀.”

I've heard that more than once when talking about the Sacred Silence Retreat.

And I understand.

For most of us, silence isn't something we experience very often. Even when things around us are quiet, there's usually a lot going on within us.

So what actually happens during a guided silent retreat?

First, you're not expected to arrive knowing how to do this.

We'll begin together, and I'll gently guide you into the experience. There will be opportunities for prayer, reflection, rest and simply being still.

You won't have to figure out how to fill 27 hours.

And you certainly don't have to be good at silence.

In fact, one of the beautiful things about stepping away is discovering just how much we carry without even realizing it.

Sometimes it takes a little while for the noise within us to settle.

That's okay.

The invitation isn't to accomplish something in those 27 hours.

It's to make room to encounter the Lord, to listen and to receive.

𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘
November 3–4 | Grand Coteau
27-hour guided silent

Private accommodations, meals and retreat materials included.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲.

If you've been considering joining us, now is the time to reserve your place.

Details in the first comment.

https://grandcoteauretreats.stellarwebsystems.com/join/event/08ea6d40-2e07-11f1-8064-16ffeab70ea9/form/8df8714c-d1d4-11ef-99ae-16256db603cb?appeal=

10/07/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽?

I was recently asked to speak about servant leadership at a retreat for professionals in the legal profession.

As I prayed and prepared, something kept coming back to me.

There are countless books, programs and resources teaching us 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

Far fewer invite us to ask: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲?

Because long before we ever step into a position of leadership, we have already been formed.

Experiences have shaped us. Beliefs have taken root. We have learned ways of responding, achieving, protecting ourselves and relating to others.

Some we are aware of.

Others have become so ingrained in us that we do not even recognize them anymore.

And all of that comes with us when we lead.

So does the relationship we have with the Lord.

If we desire to be servant leaders, that matters. Because Christian servant leadership is not simply a more generous or compassionate way of leading.

𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲.

Christ Himself.

And He gave us a way to recognize what is actually being produced by our positions of influence.

𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁.

Maybe the measure of our leadership is not only what we are accomplishing, but what our leadership is producing 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 and 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲.

Is there love?
Joy?
Peace?
Patience?
Kindness?
Generosity?
Faithfulness?
Gentleness?
Self-control?

There is nothing inherently wrong with the external measures we use to evaluate leadership.

Results matter. Growth matters. Performance matters. Stewardship matters.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿.

We can produce impressive results while leaving behind anxiety, fear, resentment, exhaustion or division.

We can also produce very real results while cultivating peace, trust, courage, dignity and growth in the people around us.

So perhaps the question worth sitting with is this:
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽?

And what might that fruit reveal about 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 (𝗼𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝘄𝗵𝗼) 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲?

10/04/2026

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄?

You know you need boundaries.

You know you can't be everything to everyone.

You know some things aren't yours to carry.

You know you need time to think, pray and listen before making important decisions.

You know rest matters.

You know the people you love shouldn't always get what's left of you.

Most of us don't have an information problem.

And yet...

Knowing something and actually living it can be two very different things.

𝗪𝗵𝘆?

Sit with that one for a minute.

10/02/2026

𝗜’𝗱 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁. 𝗜 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻’𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀.

I understand.

For many busy people, the desire for time away with the Lord isn’t the problem.

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀.

Work is full. Family life is full. Weekends are precious. And when people depend on you, stepping away for several days can feel nearly impossible, even when you know you need the time.

That’s exactly why 𝗦𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟳 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀.

Not because silence should be rushed.

But because sometimes the length of a traditional retreat becomes the very thing keeping someone from making one.

Sacred Silence is designed to remove some of that barrier.

Twenty-seven hours in the beautiful, peaceful setting of St. Charles College. Enough time to step away from the noise, settle into silence and make room to listen to the Lord, without requiring several days away from work and family.

And you won’t simply arrive and be told to be quiet. 😉

We enter into the silence gradually, with simple guidance and accompaniment to help you begin noticing how the Lord may be speaking to you uniquely.

Then there is plenty of space to simply be with Him.

You don’t need to accomplish anything.

You don’t need to figure anything out.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲.

𝗦𝗔𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗗 𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘
November 3–4 | St. Charles College, Grand Coteau
27-hour 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙙 silent retreat
A few rooms remain. | Detailed flier in the comments.

https://grandcoteauretreats.stellarwebsystems.com/join/event/08ea6d40-2e07-11f1-8064-16ffeab70ea9/form/8df8714c-d1d4-11ef-99ae-16256db603cb?appeal=

09/29/2026

“I don't have anyone to give it to.”

“It takes longer to explain it than to just do it myself.”

I've heard both from leaders. Heck, I've said both myself.

And sometimes they're completely true.

Maybe you don't have the staff.
The budget isn't there.
You can't find the right person.
The volunteers aren't available.
Or no one is ready to take it on.

So another lesson on delegation may not actually solve the problem.

The better question might be:

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼?

Maybe someone needs to be developed.

Maybe you need to ask for help.

Maybe expectations need to change.

Maybe something else needs to come off your plate.

Or maybe this doesn't need to be done at all.

The answer will be different for every leader.

That's why I don't believe every leadership problem should automatically be treated as a skill gap.

Sometimes the real work is getting beneath the presenting problem long enough to understand what's actually keeping you stuck.

𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽.

Sometimes better leadership begins with discerning what is actually yours to do.

09/25/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝗱𝗮𝘆… 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴?

No email.
No scrolling.
No planning.
No solving.

Just step outside and watch the sun rise.

What actually happens when we give ourselves a few minutes to simply be present to the beginning of a new day?

Quite a bit.

🌅 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸, supporting healthier sleep and wake rhythms.

🌅 𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, giving the brain a natural signal that the day has begun.

🌅 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 and greater feelings of restoration and well-being.

But maybe there's something else happening, too.

🌅 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

No notifications. No headlines. No one needing an answer. No decisions to make.

🌅 𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Your breathing.
What is stirring within you.
The creation around you.
Things we can easily rush right past.

🌅 𝗜𝘁 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿.

The changing sky. The sounds of morning. The sheer beauty and order of creation.

And wonder has a way of putting our problems, our schedules and even our own importance back into perspective.

🌅 𝗜𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲.

Pope Francis reminds us that contemplating creation can rekindle within us a “spark of thanksgiving.”

🌅 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿...𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

“LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice;
in the morning I will plead before you and wait.”
— Psalm 5:4

And perhaps most importantly...

𝗜𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀.

The day doesn't begin when we open the laptop.

The sun rises without our help.
The world keeps turning without our managing it.
And God is already at work before we ever get moving.

Maybe the most productive thing an overworked leader can do some mornings is resist the urge to immediately 𝗗𝗢.

Instead...

𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣.
Long enough to become still.

𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡.
To what is stirring within you.
To the creation around you.
To the Lord.

Then...

𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘.

Not from hurry.
Not from depletion.
Not because everything depends upon you.

But from a place that is more grounded, more rightly ordered and more aware of Who was leading the day before you ever woke up.

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽. 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻. 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.

Maybe tomorrow morning, start there.

09/24/2026

Most leadership development begins with what a leader needs to 𝗱𝗼.

Communicate better.
Delegate more effectively.
Manage time.
Handle conflict.
Build the team.

Those skills matter. I've spent years learning and teaching them.

But knowing what good leadership looks like and consistently living it are not always the same thing.

Take time management.

You can learn a better system, organize your calendar and become more efficient.

But what if the real issue isn't time?

What if you've never really stopped to discern your true priorities?

What if you're doing things that belong to someone else because asking for help is difficult?

What if you've convinced yourself there isn't anyone else who can do it?

Another time management technique may help you fit more in.

𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴.

That's why INTEGRATED begins somewhere different.

𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴.

Because wherever we lead, we bring ourselves with us. Our experiences, strengths, beliefs, stress patterns, blind spots and relationship with the Lord all influence how we show up.

Some we're aware of. Some quietly drive us without our realizing it.

INTEGRATED creates the space to notice what's driving us, listen and discern with the Lord, and bring what we discover into greater order and alignment with how we actually lead.

Because leadership isn't simply something we learn.

𝗜𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.

Three six month INTEGRATED Leaders cohorts begin in January 2027. Two in Grand Coteau and one virtual.

Applications are now open.
https://www.elevareintl.com/services/integrated-cohorts/

09/21/2026

Competence is a gift.

And for highly capable people, it can quietly become a trap.

“I can do it faster.”
“It’s easier if I handle it.”
“They already have enough to do.”
“I don’t have time to explain it.”

So you keep carrying it.

Not necessarily because it is yours to carry, but because you 𝗰𝗮𝗻.

Over time, competence can lead us far beyond our healthy capacity. And sometimes, the very strength that helped us become successful begins working against us and the people around us.

Maybe the question isn’t simply:

𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?

Maybe it’s:

𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆?

That distinction matters.

Elevare

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