Into The Wilderness
Jan Richardson is an author, artist, and ordained pastor. I have come across her stuff from time to time, and, like all writers, some of it I resonate with and others not so much. Recently, I saw a snippet of her stuff, this time a poem. It hit me in the gut with truth. Give it a try.
If you would enter into the wilderness, do not begin without a blessing.
Do not leave without hearing who you are: Beloved, named by the One who has traveled this path before you.
Do not go without letting it echo in your ears, and if you find it is hard to let into your heart, do not despair. That is what this journey is for.
Maybe her words met me with good truth because of the brief "wilderness" trek I have been on, or possibly the Spirit nudged me toward this truth, I don't know. What I do know is how her words resonate with my needy heart. Below is a bit of what I like:
If you would enter into the wilderness, do not begin without a blessing. There are moments we can see far enough ahead that show hard times are coming. As you have experienced, these times come in all kinds of settings like health, or key relationships, or finances. Other times we wake up one morning and find ourselves deep in the wilderness and wonder how we got there. Either way, essential for a Jesus-follower who wants to navigate tough chapters is to carry a clear sense of God in the midst of your struggles, not apart from them. He is Emmanuel, the God with us. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. He blesses you with his presence. Today, if you are in the weeds, remember that you are not alone, ever.
Do not leave without hearing who you are: Beloved, named by the One who has traveled this path before you. Here is the blessing. You are his Beloved. He loved you to the point of laying down his life so you could have this new name and new standing with the Father for all time. Wrap your head around this new nametag Jesus has pinned to your shirt: Beloved. Not earned, given. Not transactional, a grace gift. A new name that is also a blessing to power us toward God in all we do. And Jesus did this out of love as he walked wilderness paths of his own before we faced ours, so he personally knows the difficulties you face.. When we enter our next wilderness sector, we take heart knowing we are his Beloved and never out of his sight.
Do not go without letting it echo in your ears, and if you find it is hard to let into your heart, do not despair. That is what this journey is for. So, we face another setback, another surgery, yet another disappointment as our desires are not met, but we face them with hope. In our best God-oriented minds, we allow our new name and all it carries to echo in our ears, and we are encouraged, strengthened, moved along. And to the extent that we sometimes doubt that God loves us and has given us this new name (Beloved), the journey itself with all of its hardships is a tool Jesus will use to help us live out the truth of God and life. Viewing wilderness days like this will build perseverance in life and faith.
When Peter wrote his second general letter to believers who faced persecution from outside and some wrong teaching within, he opened it with a strong reminder of what believers have at hand as God's Beloved, and a challenge to live worthy lives. Read this a couple of times to get the flow of his argument.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
Peter's readers were in their personal and community wilderness. His opening lines paint in large letters on a poster the truth of what Beloved means. We have been given everything we need in order to live well. Then, we build a life on that foundation with the seven character attributes he lays out in succession. When we believe God that we carry his blessing and have at our disposal all we need to meet each day, rain or shine, each morning is another God-day that can become a good day as we walk with him. Wilderness times become nothing other than another chance for a child of God to walk worthy of our new name.
Sounds easier than it is. A lifetime of weaving our faith into the fabric of our daily lives, knowing how Jesus gives all we need to flourish, becomes both our intent and encouragement. Wilderness days will come on us just like any other person. And never underestimate the good outcomes the wilderness can bring.
Take courage today if you are weeds-deep in the wilderness. If it's all rainbows and unicorns, know your share of dark days will come. Regardless, you carry his name, and he has given all you need for what you will face. And as we lean into the lessons learned, we grow.
Music anyone?
...and a funny or two
Two newbie carpenters are nailing new siding to a house. About half of the nails that carpenter #1 pulls out of his bag of nails are tossed over his shoulder. The others are successfully used to put up the siding.
Carpenter #2 asks, "What are you doing?!?"
The first carpenter replies, "I can't use about half of these nails because they're pointed in the wrong direction!"
The second carpenter tells him, "Don't be stupid. Those are for the other side of the house!"
__________
WHEN INSULTS HAD CLASS
"He can compress the most words into the smallest idea of any man I know."
- Abraham Lincoln
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
- Winston Churchill
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends."
- Oscar Wilde
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here."
- Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator."
- John Bright
"He is not only dull himself, he is the cause of dullness in others."
- Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up."
- Paul Keating
"He had delusions of adequacy."
- Walter Kerr
"Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?"
- Mark Twain
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
- Oscar Wilde
"He has Van Gogh's ear for music."
- Billy Wilder