Sacred Mundane: The Blog

I remember saying goodbye to Aunt Lois for the last time. I remember kissing her on the cheek and taking a deep breath, wanting to inhale her scent one last time and remember it forever. I remember climbing in our car, then watching her on the front porch, standing in her purple robe, like royalty, waving goodbye to us as we drove away.

She was 90 then and we lived 3,000 miles away. I knew I’d never see her again this side of eternity. And I didn’t. She’s now in glory, waiting for me there.

As we’ve read and re-read Pioneer stories from the Oregon Trail, one of the most impacting components for me has been the goodbyes. One story is told from the perspective of a child. She tells of watching her mom say goodbye to her mother, weeping, knowing they will never see each other again.  Countless women walked that same path, leaving their own parents, never to see them again, so that they could follow their husbands and pursue a new life in Oregon territory. They would have bid forever farewell to dear friends, parents, siblings, all in order to follow the Oregon trail. And even on a lesser scale, all would have said goodbye to homes, comforts, and all that was known and familiar to them. They would have left furniture, countless belongings, anything that didn’t fit in the wagon would be left.

What must we leave behind in order to follow Christ? To what must we “say goodbye”? What belongings, dreams, comforts, relationships? 

All the pioneers considered Oregon “worth it.” (And I must say I think Oregon is worth it too!) They considered the promise of a new life to be worth saying goodbye to all they left back East. I’m sure they wept, struggled, and often missed their loved ones back home, but they reminded themselves of the promise ahead and chose to say goodbye.

We cannot truly embark on this adventure of following Christ until we have said goodbye to what must be left behind.  It isn’t about forsaking things just to forsake them, it’s about asking God who and what must be left behind.

What can’t come? 

A few things I know for certain: Our pride can’t come. Our egos. Our preferences and many of our comforts. Our need for control can’t come. Our entitlement and our rights. All these things must stay behind. There may even be some relationships, some habits, some leisure activities, where we must say goodbye.

The Pioneers’ journey couldn’t actually begin until these goodbyes had been said. 

Our Pioneer journey doesn’t actually begin until these same goodbyes have been said. 

What is it for you?

For me, I must say goodbye to my tendency to see things/events/situations primarily in relation to how they affect me. 

I must say goodbye to this.

In order to truly follow Christ, I must see all things/events/situations primarily in relation to how they affect the Glory of God and the furtherance and advancement of His Kingdom.

Anybody else? Will you share with us? What are you saying goodbye to today?

~

This is what I’m doing today. Saying goodbye. True goodbyes are never quick, easy, or flippant. True goodbyes hurt, take time, and usually involve tears.  But true goodbyes are necessary if we are really to travel this road. I’m praying you have the grace today to say goodbye to whatever God pinpoints in your heart. Thank you so much for journeying with me. With love from Sacramento, K

This morning at 6am we loaded our sleepy-eyed children into the car for our 2,388 mile road trip.

We have all the essentials: Water bottles, snacks, hand-sanitizer … and 23 library books on the Oregon Trail. 

Lately, Pioneer Life is the topic of our home. Dutch’s fascination with cowboys led to a fascination with pioneers which led to a fascination with the Oregon Trail. We are up to our eyeballs in Sacagawea, Cameahwait, Lewis & Clark, and Charbonneau. And the timing is perfect since the last part of our road trip is actually traveling the Oregon Trail from Boise, Idaho back to Oregon City, Oregon.

But more than just an educational road trip, all this study of Pioneer Life has got me reflecting upon the Pioneer Life of the Christ-follower. Really, all of us who leave our past life and sign up for the journey of faith, are part of this traveling family of Pioneers, sojourning in this life, moving into a forever Kingdom and taking others with us along the way (1 Peter 2). 

The more I read of Pioneer Life the more my heart is stirred, my faith ignited, my spirit longing to live a life of real faith and reckless abandon to our God. There is something asleep inside that’s being stirred to trust Him more, follow Him more, worship Him more, love Him more.  The Oregon Trail wasn’t safe, wasn’t easy, wasn’t quick. There was no instant gratification, and no guaranteed results. BUT, those precious Pioneers were part of something bigger than themselves, and their bravery, courage, and perseverance inspires me beyond words. The parallels between those pioneers and our early church brothers and sisters are many. Chuck Swindoll said this:

“In vain I have searched the Bible, looking for examples of early believers whose lives were marked by rigidity, predictability, inhibition, dullness, and caution. Fortunately, grim, frowning, joyless saints in Scriptures are conspicuous by their absence. Instead, the examples I find are of adventurous, risk-taking, enthusiastic, and authentic believers whose joy was contagious even in times of full trial. Their vision was broad even when death drew near. Rules were few and changes were welcome. The contrast between then and now is staggering.”

Doesn’t something inside your heart sing, just a little, when you read these words? Yes! Amen! Wouldn’t the world take notice if they truly saw Christ-followers who were marked by adventure, risk-taking, enthusiasm, joy, authenticity? What if our lives were characterized by faith? What if we happily left behind the padded life of comfort, just a little, in order to embrace a life of believing Him? What if we prayed about everything we needed? What if our first response to every need was to turn to heaven and simply ask?

So this week, on our pioneer-road-trip-adventure, I’d love to share a few lessons from the trail, nuggets He’s unearthing for us as we travel this life of faith, learning from pioneers, seeking to live like pioneers.

{Will you travel along with us? There’s sure to be some blisters and brawls along the way, but what a privilege it is to travel with Him into a new place of adventure and faith. I’m excited to see what we’ll discover. Thanks so much for joining us, and for reading. Happy Independence Day!}

Just in case you have some free-time over the holiday weekend ahead: Here are a few fun reads just waiting to be enjoyed. We’re loading up the car today and headed on our grand road trip adventure tomorrow. Stay tuned for thoughts on Pioneer Life.  Enjoy!

1. The Hawk and the Dove Trilogy (Slow at first, but stick with it!  The story of a Benedictine monk in an English monastery in 1303: Deals with issues of humility, community, and the marginalization of our sick and handicapped.  Must read. I bought this one.)

2. Ella Minnow Pea (This book fascinates me. A story of a fictional island that restricts the use of certain letters because of foolish superstition.  First off, the way it’s written is absolutely genius. But the implications are fascinating as well. You have to see it for yourself.)

3. Year of Wonders (This one tore me apart: Seventeenth century England, during the Plague. A small village, when infected, chooses to quarantine themselves entirely in order to avoid spreading the deadly disease.  It is horrific, heroic, inspiring and disturbing all at once. My only warning is that the end is stupid. If it had ended on page 272 it’d be great, but for some reason she adds this ridiculous ending. Ignore it.)

4. The Help (I’m sure of you’ve heard of this one by now…  the story of three women, set in 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi, and how their lives intersect. Civil rights in a whole new light.  Couldn’t put it down. It’s long too, so be sure to understand that your family will be severely neglected for a while during this one.)

5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. (I’ve always said a novel in letters could never be done. At least not well.  I was sooo wrong. This is amazing. Set in 1946, a story set in London and Guernsey island at the end of WW2.   Humanity, frailty, love … it’s fabulous.)

6. Still Alice. (This is a heartbreaking, but beautiful and insightful look at the progress and effects of early-onset Alzheimer’s.  The author is a neuro-scientist, and uses her years of studying this devastating disease to inform her writing.  Gripping: I think I read it in one sitting.)

7. Lowlands of Scotland Series: Thorn in my Heart, Fair is the Rose, Whence Came a Prince.  These are the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah, set in 1764 in Scotland.  I think these should contain a warning label because they will seize you emotionally. I became obsessed, sneaking up to bed early to read, staying up until the middle of the night carrying my book around to sneak in moments when I could.  Carry kleenex. Powerful stuff. BTW there’s a 4th in this series too but I could never get into it for some reason.)

8. The Secret Life of Bees. (A coming-of-age story set in the 1960s.  I haven’t seen the movie, but this book is great.)

9.The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series. (I don’t even remember how many are in this series, but you must read them all. They are all wonderful.  The perfect light book for a summer afternoon.  Mma Ramotswe will become your new best friend.  I love her so much.  Set in modern Botswana, this “traditionally built” African woman sets up shop as the No. 1 Ladies detective in her country.  Amazing.  This author, Alexander McCall Smith, also has a 44 Scotland Street series–I’ve read one–, and an Isabel Dalhousie series.  I’ve read several and like them as well, but Mma Ramotswe takes the cake.)

10. The Glass Castle. (Ok, this isn’t fiction but it’s better than fiction!)  Writer Jeanette Walls writes a memoir recounting her childhood growing up homeless. She writes the most unbelievable and often horrific tales without flinching and without an ounce of self-pity. This book is disturbing, challenging, hilarious, entertaining, inspiring. One you can crawl right into! A must-read.

11. Anything by Rosamunde Pilcher.  (The Shell Seekers is her most popular, and probably my favorite, but the lady doesn’t have a bad novel in her. They’re all delightful. No real challenge or redeeming value but well-written; the woman’s just a born story-teller.  Enjoy these by the pool sipping lemonade.)

12. The Rumpole series. (Again, I don’t know how many are in this series but I’ve read every single one and am begging for more.  Not sure everyone will share my love for this odd British humor: Rumpole is a short pudgy aging British barrister who is rather unremarkable, who carries in his pocket a copy of the Oxford Book of English Verse, and is married to a woman whom he refers to as She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed.  I love my Rumpole!)

13. An American Childhood (Annie Dillard is a literary genius, so brace yourself for some mental mastication.  Such richness in this book though. The part about her rock collection wore on a bit, so I skimmed that part. Her insights into children and adolescents is amazing.)

14. Old School (The setting is an elite prep school in 1960, and the narrator is a half-Jewish scholarship-student (a lower-class outsider) who learns to mimic the mannerisms of his privileged classmates in order to fit in and gain acceptance. More than anything he wants to be a writer, but he cannot write the truth until he first learns to tell the truth about himself. The themes of competition, pride, and pretense  cut to the heart of our image-obsession and veneered society.) My review here. 

15. In the Time of the Butterflies (Historical fiction. The story of the four Mirabal sisters during the Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic, their plot to overthrow the government, their conflicting desires and emotions, and their tragic end. Fascinating read.)

{What are your favorite fiction reads? I don’t have a single one on my nightstand right now. Please help me out!  Thanks for reading…}

“How far?” Jeff looked up at me as he pulled on his running shoes, a little challenge in his voice. How much was I up for?

I took a deep breath, clipping my ipod onto my shorts. I’m such a wimp.

“Six miles.”

He smiled. “Alright.”

We hadn’t run together in ages. With two little monkeys on our hands, we always run separately. And while I’d passed the six-mile mark on my own, I usually choose the flattest route possible and run my snail-pace and make the whole endeavor as painless as possible.

I hate pain. 

We slipped in our earphones and jogged out onto the narrow country road by our house. He took the lead and with no idea where he would take me, I resolved just to follow.

I’ve been learning to follow. 

Literally. Back on June 1st, God put on my heart to focus all my energy this month on following Jeff. On blessing him, cheering for him, serving him, praying for him, encouraging him, affirming him, loving him and championing him. To simply following his lead, wherever it took me.

So that’s what I’ve been doing for a month.

It was good I’d had some practice before Jeff took me on this run. 

After two miles Jeff turned us off the regular flat-route I call home, and took us down trails, through parks, up and down different roads, and through the forest. Up and down we went, my thighs burning. Every once in a while he’d look over and raise his eyebrows and give me a thumbs up to ask, “You ok?” I’d nod and try to smile and give him a thumbs up back. “I”m alive.”

Now, I don’t mean to be overly dramatic–it was only a 6 mile run. But it was far harder and faster than I normally run and I’m not exaggerating when I say I prayed the entire way. See, I’m a wimp when navigating the unknown. When I run, I always run the same path. I always go the same pace. I usually go the same distance. I get easily frightened when I’m challenged to do something physical that’s outside my comfort zone. I’m really really really not one of those hard-core workout people who loves risk and daring new adventures. Nope. In fact, if I really had my way … I’d walk instead.

But Jeff knows me. And he knows that I’d prefer a stroll through the park and a caramel macchiato, and he also knows that I can do much more than I think I can. He knows I won’t actually die even though I say I will. 9 1/2 years of running together has taught him that.

So as we run I pray, and I can see so clearly that learning to follow Jeff is simply learning to follow God. Do I trust Him? When He takes a sharp left turn and leads me straight UP the hill instead of down the flat course, Will I follow Him?

Will I follow Him even when the path doesn’t look safe at all? 

Will I commit to following Him wherever He goes? Whatever route He chooses? However long? At whatever pace?

Do I actually trust Him?

Do I trust that wherever He leads me will be for my good? Do I trust that He will never run me to death? Do I trust that however long this race, He will give me the strength I need to run with endurance? To finish strong?

It was perfect that we did our run in silence. There was no space for objection, complaints, whining. I held my tongue, prayed to God, and followed my man.

And each time he looked back I gave the thumbs up: “I’m ok.”

Oh God for the grace to do that each day. To hold my tongue, pray to You, and follow my man. To stick right behind him and when he glances back, to give him the thumbs up sign and let him know I’m ok. No matter what we face, I’m ok. No matter how scared I am, or how steep the road looks, I’m ok. 

As I’m learning to follow my man–and my God–that is my prayer. 

{How are you learning to follow the Father today? Please share any life-lessons with us, so we can glean as well. Thanks so much for reading.}