Life is a Journey, not a destination…

We have lived into 3 months, 17 days of this time of sabbatical rest – this time of un-hooking from the USA, our life and lifestyle. God is gracious to have led us here, to experience a similar-language and culture, yet quite different as well. We walk behind Him, not knowing more than this step. Few plans, except those determined by a visa requirement. We advance knowing He may not open that door… or He may.

Our couple-ness is rooted spiritually, reflected by an energized daily commitment to reading the Word, memorizing the Word, and praying together. Can this be us? This is a door of many that God is opening and we enter in and eat. Thank You, Father.

I’m walking a different terrain than Vance; my journey is over the fells of those years in my life where I have lived in darkness. I am “the lost and sick for whom Jesus came to seek and to save.” He made darkness His secret hiding place (Psalm 18:11) and is pretty cool about joining and dwelling with me there. He’s dwelt in those dark rooms of my life several times; I know I was redeemed. He is not having to convince all of me that He loves me. I know that love in my bones. He is walking into my less familiar zones, quietly just sitting alongside in the dark. About the time the ears of my soul tune in, I recognize a nuance of the Spirit, Jesus, sometimes, God--always gentle. Most striking though is the Kindness given to me.

I’ve come to recognize “kindness” as a gift from God that I embrace. I look back… there’s a long road of kindness – a gentle strength that remains alongside for the long haul… for a friend, a dying dog, those unable to speak for themselves, forgiveness of heart for betrayal, sometimes…just the truth wrapped so another hears without being harmed, or simple remembering that causes another to know I truly took the time to see and hear.

Your “Kindness” finds me, Lord. When I have not been able to say “yes” to hard things You want me to do, a well-timed-wind-not–of-my-own-self, but one that I recognize appears. I’m seeing a pattern that I know in my soul ~ the thought You had of me before I was conceived in my mother’s womb. My life is full of moments where Your Spirit imbues refreshing life into me and leads me on down the path of my journey. Father, the days I’ve lived would not have the priceless jewels but for You! Thank You for my tautness of heart!

AS I breathe the air You provide for my life, I live into the moment, the hour, the day unencumbered by the whats, whens, hows, wheres, and whos… when I am weak (and I am)… You are strong… you parcel out strengthening for just that moment… just that circumstance… and the way I was is transformed in becoming more like You… and the design of Your choosing for me increasingly becomes the ground to which I’m lifted to joy-full “yes.” Seen it time and time again over my “increasing” years.

I appreciate the Quiet-You-Are. Thank You, Abba.

Courage for the Journey

I walked into church this morning.   Busy fells: scrambling orienteering contest and regular Sunday walkers.


The cathedral was organized with chairs in an oval around a central table laden with un-lit candles. Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, Catholics—all together today each with a symbol of their traditions also on the central table. A representative from each small church lit their own candle and placed their symbol next to their candle on the one table: 1662 Common Book of Prayer, KJV Bible, Wesleyan hymnal, an extra lit candle for the non-iconic Quakers (in case theirs went out!), & rosary beads. We all sang a hymn called “God Sets Us On a Journey” (tune: Hyfrydol; eg., Jesus what a Friend of Sinners, or, Come Thou Long Expected Jesus):

God who sets us on a journey

To discover, dream and grow,

Lead us as you led your people

In the desert long ago;

Journey inward, journey outward,

Stir the spirit, stretch the mind,

Love for God and self and neighbor

Marks the way that Christ defined.



Exploration brings new insights,

Changes, choices we must face;

Give us wisdom in deciding,

Mindful always of your grace;

Should we stumble, lose our bearings,

Find it hard to know what’s right;

We regain our true direction

Focused on the Jesus light.



End our longings for the old days,

Grant the vision that we lack—

Once we’ve started on this journey

There can be no turning back.

Let us travel light, discarding

Excess baggage from our past,

Cherish only what’s essential,

Choosing treasure that will last.



When we set up camp and settle

To avoid love’s risk and pain,

You disturb complacent comfort,

Pull the tent pegs up again;

Keep us travelling in the knowledge

You are always at our side;

Give us courage for the journey,

Christ our goal and Christ our guide.

----Joy Dine @ Joy Dine CCL License no 226319

            The service, the song, both spoke to me in our transitional Sabbath place of rest. We look back with remembrance only to look forward with confidence. The sea of mainly white-hairs all in a circle singing “end our longings for the old days” had a certain poignancy to it. How many of them, how much of me, actually invites God to pull up our tent pegs and disrupt our long night with the TV? More often than not I’m like these sheep of the Langdales where I’ve been walking—cozy and connected with their own good earth, content in their shepherd’s watch-care. There is an elemental goodness in that, true; but pastures wear thin and the journey continues if we’re to live. I invite you to sing the song, feel whatever emerges, and journal your thoughts. I invite your comments in this way.