Hiking Life's Trail

Recently I was blessed to reunite with two very dear friends after many years.  We have spent those years living in different parts of the country.  Time and distance; the busyness of daily life with families; the experiencing of life events; and other life circumstance often intervened or distracted us from frequent contact.  We were fortunate to spend several days together  - in the desert of all places!  Each day, time was taken for what became our most enjoyable activity ... hiking.

Yes, it was a great way to fit in exercise (we managed our 10,00 steps each day). 

Yes, it was a great way to discover and appreciate the beauty of the desert.

But it became something deeper.

During our time together J, our friend who was from the area, led the way. Being from the area, she knew the lay of the land; made sure we got to the proper trailhead and started down the right trail; led us through the unfamiliar territory; encouraged us; took care of us and made sure we had what was needed ("drink your water! you dehydrate so much faster in the desert"); pointed out dangers we maybe were unaware of (ever heard of a "jumping cholla"?)  and helped us appreciate the local beauty. We obviously put our trust in her lead which took some of the unknown away and maybe put a fear or two (tarantulas and snakes) at ease.  This really helped us appreciate where we were and made the journey all that more enjoyable.  She was a great guide.

 For over two decades we had each faced our individual journeys on the trail of life.  As we hiked the desert miles together, we had the time to share the landmarks on our individual trails. 

Those landmarks had consisted of challenges (health issues, death, sorrows, concerns) and joys (accomplishments, celebrations, grace in the midst of trial). 
As we shared these journeys, both our individual and the present hiking experiences, it became apparent that we had another Guide. 

Guide.  A counselor.  Leader.  Mentor.  Pilot.  Advisor.  Chaperone.  Director.  Example.  A scout.  A Navigator. Our Pathfinder.

Our Guide was present for each of us in the midst of our individual journeys and He was very present as we shared our time reconnecting with each other renewing not only our friendships but our spirits wearied by life's trail. 

Presently, our time together was led.  Our individual anticipations, hesitations, anxieties and perhaps fears of reconnection after more than two decades were unfamiliar territory through which we literally provided for and led.  We were given what we so obviously needed - moments brought up at the right time to be able to share some hard challenges or hurts we had traveled through; moments appeared that encouraged us to revisit paths of fear and doubt we had or were presently facing; and moments to share joys that had us celebrating and laughing - at times uncontrollably.  Through our time in the desert and our Guide's presence we were able to trust his path finding skills and went places and found ways to mark healing, encouragement, and the renewal we now had and will continue.

So now we return to our individual trails.  We still face what lies ahead. But we possess a new found consciousness and intentional awareness.  We will never again feel like we are traveling without each other's companionship.  And more importantly, our Guide is with us.  Always present.  Even though at times we cannot see what lies ahead; or we are unaware of dangers; or we feel at a loss coming to crossroads; or we feel exhausted and may not be able to discern what we really need; - our Guide is there helping us navigate; giving us encouragement; covering our needs.

It is my prayer for you as you hike life's trail to become conscious of this trustworthy Guide, be intentional aware of His Presence.  He is trustworthy.  And through Him, the beauty of the hike can be truly appreciated and recognized.

Blessings.

Deuteronomy 2:7

The Lord your God has blessed you in all the work of your hands. He has watched over your journey through this vast wilderness

Exodus 15:13

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Psalm 23:3

He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Psalm 48:14

For this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end.

Psalm 73:24

You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory.

Isaiah 42:16

I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Honesty

"Honesty is the best policy."  A childhood admonishment that I'm sure I was not the only one who received.  A rule that is sooooooo much easier stated than it is actually implemented. As we grow older often times it seems we make this simple policy more complicated than it should be.

Whole truths vs. half truths... little white lies... bigger white lies... leaving out the details... ducking the truth... avoiding the truth... and then there is the out and out lie.

Honesty.  Truthful, sincere, free from deceit, candor, fair, upright, integrity.

If this is the best policy, why is it often an issue?

Dishonesty exists for a multitude of reasons.
Trying not to hurt someone's feelings.  Avoiding consequences of our own behavior.  Fear of what others may think.  To benefit from whatever is being hidden.  Or perhaps out of perception that one is making things easier. 

 TRUTH IS... dishonesty never fixes anything.  Dishonesty never makes anything easier, especially in the long run (when the fallout is ultimately larger and more detrimental).  Hurting someone with the truth is far better than killing them silently and slowly with a lie (sometimes you are hurting yourself the most - you are the one silently and slowly dying on the inside).  It is best to just be honest, tell the truth and deal with an honest mess. 

Honesty requires true strength and true courage.   The hardest person to be honest with is our own self. 

TRUTH IS... More often than not, the person we are least honest with is ourselves.  PROBLEM IS... More people than we think actually know the truth.  You see, honesty is a reflection of character.  Honest hearts produce honest actions. 

Honesty may seem incredibly hard to find but the act of examining ourselves leads us headlong into honesty and often forces us to wrestle with the truth. 

Honesty brings integrity ... doing the right and good thing regardless of consequences.  When you embrace, practice and live honesty, you gain the respect of those around you, but more importantly you move in the direction God desires for you. 

Making a mistake is common.  Being honest allows forgiveness... of others, of ourselves.

"Honesty is more than not lying. It is truth telling, truth speaking, truth living, and truth loving."

My prayer tonite is for the courage, guidance and strength to embrace, practice and live honesty --- and in doing so you will gain respect and find God's desires for you and those you care for.

Job 6:25  How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove?

Proverbs 14:5  An honest witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.

Proverbs 11:3  Good people are guided by their honesty; treacherous people are destroyed by their dishonesty.”

Proverbs 16:13  Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value the one who speaks what is right.

Proverbs 24:26  An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Establishing a Foundation

During my commute, I've been watching several buildings that have been under construction in the city.  A casual interest as the train passes the sites has developed. Observations have been made periodically.  Each of the buildings began on reclamation sites - a site which once held a dilapidated building or rubble.  They've risen to become an office building 4 stories high, an apartment building and a 30-story skyscraper.  It has been interesting to discover that proportionally a large amount of time is spent on establishing the building foundation. 

Foundation ... base, groundwork, underpinning, the footing, support, the infrastructure, the beginning.

Getting the foundation right is incredibly important.  It is an anchor for all that follows and determines the success of what is built.  Will the structure stand firm?  Will it bear the load? Will it be strong enough to stand against the elements of time, weather or calamities?  Will it be secured against the shifting of the very soil or ground in which it is built?  Will it prevent collapse?

 

It would've have been impossible for any of these buildings to create a secure foundation without first clearing the rubble and decay that had been there prior.  The primary step to laying the solid foundation on which each of these structures have risen was dealing with the wreckage first.

Immediately following this thought came a realization.

In our lives, we have to clear the rubble to ensure a secure foundation as we begin to build.

This is especially true when it comes to relationships.

It may seem easier to just move forward - ignore the rubble of unresolved issues - seemingly resuming the build of the relationship.  If we do this, the ultimate end will be a relationship that will not have the strength to stand through the effects of life's elements.  Misunderstandings, trials, miscommunications, unrealized expectations, whispers, doubts, fears, hurts will erode the structure of the relationship because the rubble was in the way of establishing the firm foundation.

Work is required. Rubble needs to be cleared. Trust, communication and love are footers that need to be carefully, intentionally and genuinely poured.  It is only then that the structure wanted will reach soaring heights that will firmly stand.

As my thoughts come to a close, I am reminded that there is one foundation that will ensure we are able to always stand with confidence despite any obstacle or trial life may bring - even the task of clearing rubble and rebuilding. 

 

My prayer for you is the strength and courage to clear rubble; the perseverance to build and experience the rewards; and to always live your life on the True Foundation.

 

Job 4:19  How much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth!

Isaiah 28:16  So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic.

Isaiah 33:6  He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.

 Matthew 7:24  Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

 Matthew 7:25  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock

 1 Corinthians 3:10  By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

Moments

It has been said that we do not remember days... we remember moments. 

They are full of impact.  They influence, shape and change our lives forever.  Strung together they are the sum of our existence.

Moment.
An instant. A short period of time. The present time.  A point. A juncture. Of importance or consequence.

Lately I've been reminded of how quickly moments slip away.  It is sad how easily they are lost... how fleeting they are.

Moments.  Some are unexpected.  Some are difficult.  Some are painful.

There is great loss when moments are wasted. There is great loss when they are missed. 

Moments need to be lived consciously.

Appreciate them. Be grateful for them.  Enjoy them.

Cherish them. Treasure them. Savor them.

Spend them well.  Make them count.  Witness them.  Really experience them.  

Be present in them.

Exhaust them.

Make them count!

And remember.... the best moments are shared.

 

2 Corinthians 4:17  For our light and MOMENTary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Psalm 46:10 He says, “Be STILL, and know that I am God
Psalm 131:3  Israel, put your hope in the Lord both NOW and forevermore.
1 Thessalonians 3:8  For NOW we really live, standing firm in the Lord.
2 Peter 3:18  To him be glory both NOW and forever! Amen.
1 John 3:2  Dear friends, NOW we are children of God.

Weary of being weary

"my soul is getting tired"...

As I read these words of a friend, I sighed and my heart sank a bit ...

I whispered a prayer for the exasperation she felt; for the struggle and hurt involved as someone in her life continued acting on the decision to remove themselves from her life - making the choice to turn their back.  Because of the other's misperceptions... expectations ... unwillingness ... self righteousness ... or perhaps it is due to the other's own hurts --- restoration, rebuilding, trust, and amends are left to fade away and become impossibilities.  This is not what her heart and her soul want.  Time, energy, emotion, love, self investment  have resulted in weariness.  

Weary.

To be physically, mentally or emotionally exhausted. Strained. Fatigued. Tired. Worn out. Indifferent.

Weariness. 

To be honest - a big reason why my heart sank in reading my friend's words is because I've been struggling with weariness as well. 

Weariness. 

It seems like it is all too familiar to quite a few people --- obligations, chronic illness, diagnosis for loved ones, priorities vying for attention, unresolved relationships, struggles, loneliness despite being surrounded by others, giving without receiving a return... difficulties.  

 

Weariness.
The Word tells us  "in this world you will have trouble". 
Statement of fact.  Which means weariness will occur.  It's inevitable ... an unfortunate certainty.

So then, are we to be left in a continuous struggle always feeling fatigued as we wear ourselves out trying over and over, unsuccessfully to prioritize, meet obligations, giving over and over again of ourselves until we are left with nothing but indifference and exhaustion?

I've learned that I can't overcome the weariness on my own. 

I will never be able to meet all the obligations I perceive life has given me.  There is no such thing as being on top of it all.  Our expectations in life, or of other's for that matter, cannot be fully met.  True satisfaction, life neatly wrapped with a bow, can't happen as a result of our own determination or our efforts.  Control of life, its circumstances or the people in it, is an illusion.

"In this world you will have trouble...

but take heart! I have overcome the world (John 16:33). "
 
Here in lies the relief.
There is a place we can find relief - “The Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed (Isaiah 50:4)." 
There is One who can help - ”He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29)."  He "will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint (Jeremiah 31:25)".
When we turn our focus from our trouble or from the actions of others to the One who holds us in the palm of His hand our strength will be renewed.  We can cry out with the psalmist - "My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your Word (Psalm 1199:28)". Our cries will be answered and " those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31)".
No more weariness... doesn't that sound good?  That is my prayer for you!

 

Matt.  11:28 - “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."