Molded

Unplugged

So today we spent the morning on The Great Smoky Mountain Train, followed by a white water rafting trip that left my son in the water, then over and across at least 2 mountains to another city for dinner and shopping.  It was a busy day but for much of it, it was without facebook, twitter, computer, cell phones or even tv. 

We couldn’t take our phone with us and when I got back from white water rafting and picked up the phone, I felt “it” begin to happen.  I put the phone down, got on facebook to upload pictures and quickly got off.  I took my phone with me to Gatlinburg but shortly after arriving the battery died.  “It” went away.

What was “it”?  “It” was stress, the constant influx of information, whether meaningful or not, whether stressful or not, caused me stress.  “It” kept me from “them” – my family and when “it” was gone, I could enjoy “them”.

Technology is a wonderful thing, but I wonder how much stress it actually causes us that we don’t even realize on a day to day basis.

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Things that make you say “Hmmm”

We spent the morning at the Indian Village here in Cherokee.  There has always been a special place in my heart for the Native American people (if you want me to be politically correct).  So spending the morning learning more about their culture was fascinating. 

I was intrigued by all the similarities there were to Christian traditions, as well as the not so Christian traditions.

We got to see “true Cherokee dancers” today.  And I was really intrigued by what one of the guides shared about dancing.  In the Cherokee culture, dancing was not a social event, it wasn’t a casual thing, but a sacred thing.  It was used to ask the “Supreme Being” to bless them with something such as when they were going hunting or going into a battle and then it was  used to pay respects, give honor and thanksgiving to the “Supreme Being” for his blessings.

 my thoughts were – have we missed something?  Has dancing become such a casual thing that we have missed the true meaning and power of a sacred event.  I started thinking about when I remembered reading about dancing in the Bible.  Without having done any research and strictly from memory – I’m wondering if the Cherokee may be on to something…Just something to ponder for a while.

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Thriving!

It’s amazing how quickly God begins to speak to me when I get away.  Especially when we go to the mountains.  We were driving to our vacation today and going through some mountains and Johnny said “Even on a cliff trees find a way to grow straight up”  I said “It’s cause they are growing toward the light” and we both looked at each other and said “There’s a sermon in that!”

I kept watching, noticing the details of the trees and the cliffs.  The truth was there were trees growing up between the cracks in the rocks and I had a moment where I could hear those trees saying “Hey God, why do I get stuck over here in these hard rocks while those trees sitting 2 feet away get nice soft dirt.”

Yet, even in the rocks the trees didn’t just survive they thrived!  What if we lived like those trees…always growing toward the light, thriving in whatever conditions we find ourselves in not because it is where you want to be but because wherever you are there is provision for you.

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Reflections on the Journey

Remember when you got married?  Remember that honeymoon feeling – when the sun rose and set on the amazingly awesome spouse you got to spend the rest of your life with?  Remember when the honeymoon starting wearing off – when you started noticing the 8 pairs of socks that were so randomly left all over the living room floor, or (if you are my husband) the 10 glasses left sitting on the night stand?

I learned a lot about the man I married that first year but I learned a lot more about myself and my flaws and strengths.  I have never questioned whether I made the right decision when I got married.  I settled that long before I said “I do.” and Johnny and I made a decision that the word “divorce” would never enter our vocabulary and after 16 years I can say we have held up that commitment.  It hasn’t always been easy but it has been worth it.

Well, about 11 months ago I started a new adventure.  I left my professional teaching career to live out my dream job – Children’s Director at ROCK Church.  This first year has been much like my first year of marriage.  I’m going to take some time over the next week and share some of the amazing, yet sometimes difficult, exhilarating, yet often intimidating, rewarding, but also very challenging, things I have learned over this year.

It’s been an amazing journey and I’m looking forward to all that awaits.

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