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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Big Kid Now

Today is my 18th birthday. It's been quite a ride, although nothing short of amazing. I have been so blessed to see a lot and do a lot, thanks to God and my wonderful family who give me so many incredible opportunities.

I've also learned a lot. More than "a lot," rather. If there's one fact that has really been made clear to me over the years, it is that life goes on....and it moves pretty fast.

I think back to when I was a little girl and wasn't tall enough to ride the "big kid rides" at the amusement park. That seemed like such a huge deal to me, and sometimes I would stuff paper towels in the heels of my shoe so that I had the few extra inches needed to experience the coolest, fastest, most daring rollercoaster in the park. I can remember wanting more than anything to be old enough to sit in "big kid" church or order off the "big kid menu" or watch a "big kid" movie.

Now I am officially a big kid. And it's not all that it's cracked up to be.

Responsibilities are bigger, work loads are bigger. There's more stress and less "play," more things to get done, more deadlines to meet. There's taxes to pay, clothes to wash, rooms to clean, people to please, and not enough hours in the day.

Life is hard, and I'm told is doesn't get any easier. I believe it. 

Why is it so easy for us to look forward to the "not yet", reminisce about "what was" and yet struggle to live in the "right now?" Right in front of us, the present moment becomes a memory of the past and all so suddenly we find ourselves in the future we hoped would arrive soon. It's kind of a paradox when you think about it.

With the knowledge that time flies by, so I have come to realize a secret to at least make life feel like it's slowed down: Embrace every moment as if it was a precious, extraordinary gift from God..... because it is.

With every thought, we should have an awareness of His presence and likewise a spirit of thankfulness.

Psalm 118 says "Today is the day the LORD has made, rejoice and be glad in it!" There will never be another day like today. Never ever ever. It's not just a "once in a lifetime" day, it's a "once in forever" blessing. Friend, that is HUGE!!!!

Picture this: There's a pirate searching for buried treasure on an abandoned island. He looks ahead as far as the eye can see and notices mountains in the distance. He wonders if the treasure lies somewhere out there, and he worries how he'll ever be able to scale those majestic walls to find the loot. The pirate then looks back as far as the eye can see and observes the calm, blue ocean that stretches for miles upon miles. He wonders if the treasure lies somewhere out there, cached deep in the sand. He worries how he'll ever be able to navigate the waters and doubts himself ever locating the chest's coordinates. If only the pirate would think to look down at his feet... because then he'd realize he's been standing on the "X" all along.

We already have the key to the buried treasure, only in order to open it we must unlock the present moment.

There's a passage of Scripture (Matthew 6:25-34) that addresses our natural flaw as humans: we worry.

Verse 27 reminds us that we cannot add a single hour to our life by worrying. So, we must believe the simple truth that God Takes Care Of Us!!!! He always has, He always is, He always will. He promises to do so for forever, and forever is a very long time.

The last verse of this passage summarizes its entire message: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (37).

In translation, embrace today. When we do, we play more, see more, laugh more, love more, learn more, and live more.... just as if we were a kid again. I'm convinced that a "child" still remains in every one of us. What if we viewed the world through that lens?

Growing old is no option. Growing up is.

-Rachel



Writers Note: We had a very bad storm yesterday and lost power until early this morning, so there is no blog for 6/29.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Boonies

My dad is a car aficionado. Let me just illustrate that statement: there are five members of my family (four of whom can drive), and we own seven cars. Now I'm no genius, but those numbers don't exactly add up. It only makes sense that he is a stickler for keeping any and all of our vehicles in top-notch condition, but especially his Infiniti FX.

I used to get so annoyed when we'd run errands or go places and Dad would park way, way out in what he calls "the boonies." It's the back part of the parking lot and, more descriptively, a lonely sometimes scary setting with no cars or people anywhere nearby. The walk from the car to the place you wanna get to feels like a mile, and I'd make sure to whine the entire way so Dad got a good taste of my irritation.

Every time, he'd give the same exact boring speech... "Rachel, my car is important to me and I don't want it to get dinged or clipped. So the safest, smartest way to avoid that happening is to park it where it isn't even at risk."

Blah blah blah. It was worse during the winter months when we had to trudge through snow and avoid slipping on icy streets. Those were the times when I really thought he was nuts. 

But I guess it's true what they say, "you'll understand in time...."

God desires us to live as faithful, pure, righteous people. Considering today's culture, that sounds like a pretty hard thing to do. But it really isn't all that difficult. The danger is when we trust our own selves to maintain faith, purity and righteousness in tempting circumstances or situations, because the reality is that we just can't. We have an enemy who lurks about like a hungry lion, waiting for the right moment to trick us, try us and tear us down. Satan plays to our humanness because that's his only shot at winning. One of his greatest skills is to mess with our mind and convince us that we are strong enough to stand alone and still be firm in our convictions.

But we are not strong enough, at least not when we're by ourselves and betting on own moral margin to kick in when it should. Naturally, we push the lines; we cross the boundaries. We end up the very person we never hoped we'd be. And then we wonder how we got there.

The secret, then, to living faithfully, purely and righteously is to not even "park" ourselves where we are vulnerable to any damage. Yeah, it's not always the shortest, most convenient path but it's the most rewarding. It is also the safest, smartest way to protect our hearts, respect those around us and honor God.

I love the New Living Translation version of 1 Thessalonians 5:22, "Stay away from every kind of evil."

The Greek word apechesthe is used here, which literally means to "abstain" or "to keep oneself from." This is not just a caution but a command. We must choose carefully where we put our car because it affects us physically, mentally, and spiritually.

Physically, our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:13). God desires a pure heart and we should, too.

Mentally, our thoughts reflect who we are. Philippians 4:8 instructs us to think about whatever is "true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy."

Spiritually, our faith should be an outward expression of His inner dwelling. Titus 2:11-12 says that it is the grace of God that "teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age."

Think twice about where you park your car. It makes a difference and can save you a whole lot of pain and heartache.

I'm realizing the "boonies" aren't so bad after all.

-Rachel

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

White Board

Growing up, I had this five-foot long white board that leaned against the foot of my bed. Every night before Dad tucked us kids in, we all gathered in my room for "drawing time."

We'd pick a character for Dad to then draw on the board (it was usually one from a Disney movie). Some of my all-time favorites were Raja the tiger from "Aladdin", Flounder the fish from "Little Mermaid", and Terk the monkey from "Tarzan."

I was always amazed at how fast and accurately he drew any and every character we'd suggest. Understand that my dad is an IT guy, so his genes do not necessarily code for artistic abilities. With that being said, the pictures were never perfect but they were close enough that you could make out his intended subject.

Invariably, the character's head would be too big or a hand, too small. If that wasn't the case, Dad would run out of room on the board and consequently body parts would be missing. So, we'd all laugh and call it a night. In the rare case that Dad felt he needed to start the drawing over again, the second picture always looked differently from the first and still nothing completely like the original illustration.

I would imagine that the Disney animators spend a great deal of time outlining a character in their head before they put any ink to paper.

Likewise, the Bible tells us that God designed every component of our being and already had an image of us in His mind before we were brought to life. He is aware of our every detail, shade and shape. Psalm 139 talks about God "knitting us together in our mother's womb" and simply knowing His creation before the actual 'creating' part.

Were we to take the marker into our own hands and draw ourselves, the image (if we're lucky) may be good enough that others are able to identify it as "us." But no matter how hard we try, our picture cannot even begin to compare to God's original portrait. And just think, no two of His drawings are alike!

By humbling ourselves and giving the marker over to God, we accept the truth that anything we attempt to draw is merely a sloppy, flawed copy of His perfect picture. We need to live our lives trusting the Artist and His vision.

Consider this: You are a living, breathing God-designed masterpiece. The world is His art gallery, and none of His portraits are cheap. In fact, God paid the ultimate price with His son Jesus, who died a most painful death on a cross.

The picture He drew of you hangs on the front door of His heart. And it will never, ever be erased.

-Rachel

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Three Little Pigs

It's something that seniors spend weeks developing, something that administrators spend way too much time trying to intercept (always to no avail), and something that underclassmen anxiously anticipate with the end of the year. It's the senior class prank.

Okay, I admit that us riding bikes and scooters to school was rather wimpy. Hey, at least we kept it legal and had a greater following than the Class of 2011's flash mob! We had fun, played it safe and kept the principal happy... at least for the most part.

But nothing could top the three little pigs story.

Years ago, there was a graduating class that got a hold of three pigs and somehow managed to get them into school without being caught. They labeled the pigs "1, 2 and 4" and let them run loose in the building.

Needless to say, a great deal of time was wasted searching for pig #3. The seniors, nevertheless, were more than amused.

Teachers and staff expected to find four pigs because they were tricked by the students into thinking such was the case. I can only imagine the frustration in looking for something for so long and then realizing later that what they were searching for never existed. It didn't even matter how far or wide or high or low anyone looked, the cause was lost.

The world easily tricks us into thinking that we can find in things or people what only God is able to give. Looking to the world to meet our deepest needs or fill our deepest desires is a fool's errand. Doing so leaves us feeling even more lost, confused, dissatisfied and incomplete than we were before.

We lose energy, money and time in constantly searching for cures to our loneliness, sadness and pain. That's how addictions start-- drugs so we feel better, alcohol so we forget, pornography so our lusts are satisfied, I could go on.

Likewise, we lose purity, trust and faith in constantly turning to others for love and encouragement. That's how good relationships become destroyed and unhealthy relationships get started-- husbands are caught cheating on their wives, teenagers find themselves being sexually abused, girls let their boyfriends beat them, and parent-child interactions practically cease to exist.

What is it you are looking for in life? Chances are, it's something. Where is it you have been searching? Chances are you've had no luck looking around you, so how about looking up? 

You will find everything you will ever need in Him. He has more than enough to give, and He does so freely and fully. Are you feeling unwanted? He will love you. Are you sad? He has happiness. Are you lonely? He has comfort. Are you scared? He says "don't be." Are you worried? He has peace. Are you hurting? He can heal. Are you broken? He's got glue. Are you burdened? He will give you rest.

The pureness, wholeness, and richness of His gifts cannot be found in any person or thing of this earth, so don't bother wasting your time in pursuit. Go to God. He's only a prayer away and a blessing ahead.

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.    Jeremiah 29:13

There's good news for you, and that is God exists. He waits patiently, holding out hope you will find Him. When you do choose to seek Him first, you don't ever have to face the frustration of realizing later on that you wasted your life searching for pig #3.

And that, my friend, is a great feeling.

-Rachel

Monday, June 25, 2012

Chocolate Milk, Cheetos and Bingo

As a part-time job before I head off to college, I take care of a 91-year-old woman. Let me tell you a little bit about Mary.

She's the exact picture of a little old lady. Her maybe 100-pound body sits upright in a wheelchair, and her hands keep warm under a handmade blue-and-white checkered fleece blanket. She wears cataract glasses that darken in the sunshine, and always has a spare Kleenex up her sleeve. Her hair is white as snow and is kept out of her face by a pink butterfly clip. I'm pretty sure her teeth are false and that she smoked in her younger days, but I never asked. Her voice is very, very deep and, to be honest, it scared me the first time she opened her mouth.

She doesn't talk too much about her past or other things I would expect someone who's lived so long to recall (things like presidents, wars, or historic events). In fact, most of the stories she tells are simple memories about her family or her job as a school lunch lady.

I don't remember exactly how many years ago she said it was, but one day while working at school, Mary fell down the stairs and broke her hip (and she worked there till she was in her 80's!). That was the end of her career and the reason she's left in a wheelchair living with her daughter and son-in-law. Besides that, her health is great and her mind is quick as a whip.

For her, life is all about routine. She wakes up everyday around 8:30, has coffee with breakfast, then takes her morning meds. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the nurse comes to give her a bath. She has an afternoon nap, eats half a sandwich for lunch, takes regular bathroom breaks and, in the meantime, watches the animal world outside. She eats an early-bird supper and never misses the evening showing of "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune." At 8 o'clock sharp, she's in bed.

Mary can't wait for me to come. I get there everyday at 2:00pm and leave once her daughter gets home around 5:30. The first thing Mary makes me do is blow out the scented candle that the morning sitter lights. Mary says, "I hate that thing. Makes me sick." The next thing on the agenda is to read what she calls the "Bible," or her daily health journal that the morning sitter writes in before she leaves for the day. Invariably, after I read the entry out loud, Mary makes faces at the comments  the previous caregiver writes and sums up her disgust with a, "She's crazy! Stupid book."

The days are slow, so to help pass time we drink chocolate milk, eat Cheetos, and play Bingo.

We each play two cards, and I've figured out that one game of Bingo lasts approximately 15 minutes. We usually will go for a good hour and a half, sometimes even two. She takes it pretty seriously but prefers we both win some and lose some. There are, however, days when Mary will win every single game. When I ask her how she does it, she always responds with the same expression and line, "I can't help it if I'm lucky."

Needless to say, she keeps me laughing and I keep her young. That's more or less the essence of our friendship.

I've asked her a few times about God, and she does believe in Him. She said she's a Christian and grew up going to church. She did tell me once that she prays every night and that God answers her prayers. She knows what she believes and no one, at this point, could convince her otherwise. For example, one time the chaplain came for a visit and Mary pretended to fall asleep so he would leave and not talk to her. That's pretty typical of her... playing jokes and doing things that make others laugh. But she's also full of wisdom and every so often throws out her two-cents worth.

She's told me how important it is to work hard, take good care of my family, and give back what you can to others. But I have learned even more from just watching her and listening to the things she doesn't necessarily "say."

I've learned patience. I've learned to slow down at times. I've learned to thank God more often for my health. I've learned to notice the birds. I've learned that laughter is, indeed, the best medicine. I've learned that simple stuff matters.

There's a quote from George Washington Carver that I just love. He said, "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

The best way for us to be "tender, compassionate, sympathetic and tolerant" is to look to and imitate the One who is perfect in His handling of us, the "young, aged, striving, the weak and strong."

God needs to be our number one priority and therefore a large part of our daily routine. There is so much He has to teach us, but we will only learn if we give Him the time of day He deserves. Sometimes, He may speak aloud to us. Other times, we learn best by watching Him work in our life or in the lives of those we know. Certain times, we learn by listening to Him in the silence.

Mary's voice scared me the first time because it was not what I was expecting to hear. Don't get yourself in that kind of a bind with God. Welcome Him with an expectant heart and learn to be in tune to His voice.

"But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom."    Job 33:33

It's a rather simple principle: the more time you spend with God, the better your relationship is with Him.

That's how it has come to be with Mary and me. What we have is something special, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. True, there are a hundred other things I could think to do instead of sitting with her for nearly three hours every day, but she is too important for me to give her up. She tells me how much she enjoys my company and how much she misses me when I'm not there next to her.

What if we have that same attitude toward God? It's easy to come up with a list of stuff to do other than reading your Bible, but God should be too important in your life for you to skip spending time with Him. He misses you terribly when you leave or when you choose something else above simply being with Him.

I can see it now... one of these days, Mary and I will both be sitting with God at His table drinking chocolate milk while eating Cheetos and playing a game of Bingo.

What a moment that will be.

-Rachel

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Un-bear-able

I was in big trouble. We were staying at our vacation home in Gatlinburg, Tennessee and I had done something that really pushed mom and dad over the edge. I can't remember exactly what it was, but I do remember being sent downstairs to my room for the rest of the day... and there was still a lot of the day left to go.

It was the worst punishment, sorta like being stuck in some kind of asylum (okay, not that bad, but you get my drift). The rooms at our chalet were all so boring, since the idea was that they were meant to suit any guest or renter. I mean, they were nice rooms but not anything like my blue, cloud-painted bedroom at home with books, games, and clutter that could entertain for hours. There was just a bed, a closet, a lamp and a few pieces of furniture. Being stuck in an empty room was torture, especially considering I was at that stage in my life where patience hadn't fully developed.

Boy, was I headstrong. I slammed the door as hard as I could to make sure mom and dad knew what horrible parents they were for punishing me so cruelly over something so stupid. I threw myself onto the bed, beat my pillow a few times, and laid down facing the window opposite of the door so nobody would open it and see me crying.

Mom and dad left me alone and I felt every quiet, long minute. What was maybe a half hour felt like two. Part of me hoped that they would eventually knock, offer forgiveness and we'd all agree to start over. But my other half was bitter to the point I was planning an escape route.

Needless to say, it was one of my more melodramatic childhood days.

This next part I'll never forget. I was lying in bed looking out the window through my teary eyes when I saw it. I lost my breath for a quick second before letting out an ear-piercing scream. A big, black monster passed in front of the window just three feet away from my face! After I processed that the gigantic, grim creature was a bear, my mind started racing. My first thought was that only a thin sheet of glass separated me from the beast. My second thought was that it was hungry. My third thought was that I was going to die.

I jumped out of the bed and bolted out the door faster than a policeman could say "yes" to a doughnut. I flailed my arms and hollered, "MOM! DAD! SAVE ME!" all the way up the steps until I was finally safe in their arms.

We looked through a side window of the house and watched the bear walk down the driveway and away into the woods. It was gone... phew! I was alive... thank God. I was out of my room... success.

My punishment was called off thanks to the unexpected circumstance and to the sincere pity my parents had toward me, fearing for my life.

We all have days when we anger people we care about or do things that cause those we love to be angry back at us. As children of God, there are times when we upset our Father and, likewise, times when we feel mad at Him. Such is the reality and consequence of our humanity brushing against His perfectness.

God may choose to distance Himself for a while or become silent so that we learn a lesson. But His intentions are that of any good, loving parent. In our bitterness, we may react immaturely and slam the door of our heart as loud as we can. Yet there is a natural hope that He soon returns, knocking on the door with an offering of forgiveness. And He does.

But sometimes we run back to Him before He comes back to us. When we feel afraid or threatened by things of this world, we know that we can rush to and be held safe in His arms.

I may have been downstairs moping in my room, but I knew all along that mom and dad were close-by upstairs and that they still loved me even though I upset them. I'm sure they heard my feet pound up the steps, and they accepted me with forgiving hearts. God is the same way. He's upstairs, never too far away, and He hears us when we come running. He loves us, no more no less, even though we make mistakes. He welcomes us with open hands and forgets any unresolved anger.

Isaiah 41:10 says, "Do not be afraid for I am with you."

We can find peace in Him. As it is written, "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between His shoulders." (Deuteronomy 33:12)

If we listen to what our Father is trying to teach us in the silence, nothing becomes unbearable.

-Rachel

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Live Laugh Smile


It was our last school night and for the first time, I was wishing summer would wait a while. I loved everything about being an eighth grader-- my teachers, my classes, my friends, my school and, most importantly, the privileges that came with being the "big kids" at the junior high building. In less than 24 hours, I could call myself a "high schooler." But to be honest, I wasn't too thrilled. I was happy just being in the eighth grade, and I was really going to miss it.

My younger brother Matthew and I are 11 months apart, which means that he follows one grade level behind me. The poor guy probably got so sick of listening to me talk about how great of a day I had at school, what all I learned, the jokes we told in history class, and how totally wicked awesome it was to be a Hopewell Junior upperclassman. Okay, I admit that I found pleasure in making him jealous, but part of me really did want him to be excited about moving up the academic social ladder.

Secretly, though, I was the jealous one. He was going to be in eighth grade, and I wanted to spend another year at Hopewell. I would have given anything to switch him places. Too bad life wouldn't let that happen.

Tomorrow would be my last day of junior high, and I wanted to make sure it would be a special memory. Mom took Matthew and me to Walgreens to pick out cards for teachers. I probably read through every "thank you" note in the aisle just to be certain that I chose the one with the best wording. Once I finally found it, I grabbed eight of them and met my mom and brother at check out.

After we got home, I locked myself in my room for the next hour or so writing long, detailed, personal messages to each of my teachers. When I finished, I came downstairs and noticed Matthew sitting at the table busy addressing his cards. I asked to see one, and he got this stupid grin on his face. I thought, "Oh lord, this is gonna be good."

The card had a picture of a pink flower on the front and cursive writing that read, "With deepest sympathy."

I opened it up:

"I am sorry for your loss. Someone so special can never be forgotten. As you move forward, may you find peace in the memories."

Matthew's short, simple, scribbled note followed in the space below:

"I know you'll miss me in class. But don't worry, I'll be here one more year. Signed, your favorite student."

Knowing Matthew, I guess I can't say I was too surprised. It was perfect, hilarious, and all the teachers loved it! (I bet that was a first for them)

My brother has the gift of making people laugh. He teaches me that I can't take life too seriously. God wants us to experience earthly joy so that we look forward even more to living in happiness with Him in Heaven. He designed us to be creatures that laugh and smile and delight in the world around us.

I believe wholeheartedly that God has a sense of humor. For one, He gave me blonde hair... and I KNOW He gets a kick out of my, how can I put this, less-intelligible moments.

Laughter is mentioned all throughout the Bible, and the word "joy" alone appears over 160 times. Clearly, God cares about how we feel, and He wants to replace our tears with laughter and our mourning with shouts of joy.

Proverbs 17:22 says, "A cheerful heart is good medicine."

Life is too short to miss out on happiness, and happiness is an attitude we choose. Do you look for the bad things around you or are you a "glass half-full" sort of person? Do you look for someone's flaws or do you notice their good? When it rains, do you complain there is no sunshine or do you thank God for watering the flowers? When you lose someone you love, are you angry for the time you didn't have with them or grateful for the time you did?

Living a happy life starts by surrounding yourself with those who have a joyful attitude. When you laugh, you share the language of God and experience a little slice of Heaven. It draws us closer to Him and each other. 

Some unknown author once said that "a smile is like tight underwear-- it makes your cheeks go up." (Did you laugh? It feels good, doesn't it?!)

-Rachel

Friday, June 22, 2012

Irish Hills

Two summers ago, my Grandmother took my family, aunt and me to Ireland. We circled pretty much around the whole country, seeing and doing as much as possible during our nearly two-week long "holiday." We stayed at B&B's, climbed castles, rode horses, ate fish and chips, shopped, and even dyed our hair red to look Irish.

As much as I enjoyed the entire trip, one of my favorite memories was when we spent the day at the Aran Islands, which are located off the west coast in the Galway bay area.

The boat ride from Galway to the islands lasted about 40 minutes, and once we stepped foot on shore, it quickly became clear what fun activity we wanted to do. There was store after store of bike and buggy rentals. Mom, Grandmother and Aunt Kathy paid to tour the island via horse and buggy while Dad and us kids decided to go with the more adventurous, physically demanding alternative.

There were paved (but skinny) roads that weaved all throughout the island. In every direction, there were green pastures, rock walls, mountains, cows, sheep, and straw huts. To put it briefly, no matter where you looked, it was beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. The sun was shining, there was a breeze, it was a perfect day, and I was bike riding with my family on an Irish island. What can get any better than that?! Seriously!

As we peddled, there were lots of hills that we had to climb. My poor father had to get off of his bike a couple of times and walk up the hill because the incline was too great, and I have to admit I came close to doing the same thing with some of the hills we faced. While trying to climb those bad-boy hills, sweat dripped down my face and my legs burned so much so that my body became nearly numb with pain. I think I even screamed out a couple times, "I hate this!! This is no fun!! I feel like I'm gonna die!"

But it was after the first big hill that I realized the ride down was totally worth the ride up.

Once I rolled over the hilltop, my bike picked up speed and the wind blew stronger across my face. I didn't have to pedal, which was the best part. I was able to just coast and really notice the beauty around me. I felt like I was part of it all. I felt like I was flying, I felt free, I felt so alive.

When we came to the second big hill, I braced myself for the pain in my legs but was determined to make it to the top without having to stop or walk the rest of the way. My mind seemed to only focus on my current exhaustion which would explain why I didn't hear the car behind me honking, trying to get me to move out of the middle of the road. Once it inched its way into my peripheral vision, I got so scared that I immediately squeezed the brakes out of reflex reaction and waved apologetically to the irritated driver.

My brother, dad and sister were, by this time, a ways ahead of me. Since I already failed in maintaining my goal of getting to the top without stopping, I thought I might as well take a quick break to catch a breath.

That was when I looked back.

It was an even more fantastic view than the one I had been staring at in front of me while I was biking. I could see the port where we landed, waters that stretched back to Galway, mountains, the strip of stores and restaurants we had passed earlier, horses running down by the beach, and, most importantly, the path that I had so far traveled.

It was a picture of all the hills I had climbed. It was a reminder of the pain I endured and the joy that followed. It was a second chance for me to take in the splendor I hadn't noticed before. It was a moment I wondered how on Earth I managed to travel so far without giving up, knowing how many times the thought of doing so crossed my mind.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.    2 Timothy 4:7

We all face our own hills and have experienced the challenge of trying to keep peddling when the pain feels too great to bear. We look at the steep climb ahead of us and become discouraged, thinking there is no way we will ever be able to get to the top. We become too focused on our hurts that we are blind to the beauty around us and therefore resistant to His peace. 

As relieved as we are to finally rest at the top and as ready as we are to finally experience the joy of the ride down, we too quickly forget the lessons of the ride up.

God knows we can't climb mountains by ourselves, and that's why He promises to always bike alongside us. He is our encourager when we feel like quitting, our strength when we feel too tired, and our hope that the best is yet to come. He is the greatest partner we could have because He knows the terrain. After all, He didn't just make the journey-- He planned the journey.

It is a journey that involves three parts: where you've come from (past), where you are (present), and where you are headed (future). Maybe right now you are taking a much deserved rest at the top of a hill you've just conquered... congratulations. Maybe you are experiencing a current pain in the climb upward .... keep going. Maybe you are delighting in the ride down....embrace it.

Wherever you are, know that you are not alone. As long as your feet are on the pedals, your hands hold onto the handles, and your eyes look to God leading the way, you'll be fine. He promises to get you where you need to be, but don't forget to stop, look back and see how far He has brought you!

Trust me, the view is spectacular.

-Rachel

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Precious Gems

I spent my entire last day as a 12 year old at our place in Gatlinburg watching series after series of America's Best Places to Find Cash and Treasure. I was literally obsessed with the show, so much so that I even turned down having a water gun fight in the hot-tub with my siblings because I couldn't miss an episode.

There I sat in front of the TV with my spiral notebook and pencil, taking detailed notes of the sites across the country where precious items were lost but never recovered, money was buried but never reclaimed, and pieces of history were hidden but never rediscovered. Every time the narrator would say something along the lines of "nobody knows 'how' or 'why' or 'where'," I would get goosebumps and immediately envision myself in the moment of solving the mystery or finding the treasure.

The day eventually passed and I must have fallen asleep dreaming about adventure. Morning quickly came, and my dad woke me up very, very early.

"Happy Birthday, Sweetie. Get up, we gotta get going!"

I asked 'where?', but he wouldn't tell.

The three-hour long car ride felt even longer considering I had no idea when we would get to wherever Dad was taking us. Needless to say I perked up a bit when I saw a road-sign welcoming us into North Carolina.

That was when Dad finally revealed the big surprise. He had gotten a hold of my notebooks from yesterday and, in reading through them, noticed that one of the places I documented was in drive-able distance. He took us to the Sheffield Mine, a "real deal, genuine, ruby and sapphire mine" located in Cowee Valley outside of Franklin.

We spent the day there mining for "squeakers and honkers" (their lingo for gems). Don't think for a second that that was an easy job! It took about two hours to go through just one bucket of dirt! You put a handful of dirt at a time into the tray and sift it through the water running down what I can best describe looked like an open, wooden pipeline system. After the mud washed away, you hoped to find a ruby or sapphire left in the tray.

Most of what remained was tiny rocks or limestone (aka nothing important). The administrators were very clear in their instructions to us that we shouldn't get disappointed if we went through the entire bucket and ended up with no gems at all. The buckets of dirt came directly from the nearby mine, so there was no guarantee that you would "strike it rich" with every bucket (but you were guaranteed fun!).

The dirt got all over our clothing and our hands grew tired from sifting, but with every new handful, our hopes for finding a gemstone were restored and the other things didn't matter so much.

At the end of the day, it was Mom who had the most luck. She had a squeaker in her bucket! The ruby was NOTHING like what I expected it to look like! It was small, hexagonal, dirty, and really really ugly. I thought the workers there were kidding around when they affirmed that the rock was, indeed a ruby.

The rest of us went home with our bags of practically microscopic gems, but we were just as satisfied. During the car ride back to Gatlinburg, Mom decided that she was going to have the ruby cut, refined and made into a necklace for me as my birthday gift and as a keepsake of our fun day. There was a shop outside of Gatlinburg that did the job, and we picked up my ruby necklace just before heading home to Ohio.

The ruby necklace was breathtaking! I couldn't believe that underneath the dirty, ugly outside of that rock was a beautiful, pure gemstone.

In many ways, we are like that, too. Maybe we think we are ugly on the outiside-- body too fat, skin too bumpy, teeth too crooked. Or maybe we make decisions that give us an ugly appearance-- stealing, lying, cheating.

Being human, we sin. Sin is ugly and dirty to God. But thankfully, God does not throw us out based on whether or not we look valuable. Little by little, He washes away the dirt knowing fully well that underneath our muddy surface is a beautiful, beloved gemstone. Cleaning us up is no easy process, but he doesn't care how long it takes or how tired his hands are. He does it because we are worth it to Him.

Undoubtedly, we disappoint. I know I certainly was frustrated mining handful after handful and not finding any gemstones. Yet, as I mentioned before, with every new handful, I had a renewed spirit of excitement and hope. Even when He washes us clean, we still sin against Him, which dirties us up again. But God willingly and happily keeps mining. He takes another handful of love, another cup of His water and another bucket of "us." Sometimes it takes an entire bucket, right down to the very last handful, before we see ourselves as the precious gem God views us to be. In fact, God says we are even "MORE PRECIOUS THAN JEWELS!" (Proverbs 3:15)

Here is what else God says about us..

Instead, beauty should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.    1 Peter 4-5

All beautiful you are, my darling; there is no flaw in you.    Song of Songs 4:7

I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.    Psalm 139:14

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at his heart.    1 Samuel 16:7b

 Remember, God sees you for the value of your heart! You are beautiful!

-Rachel

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Kitchen Psalm

It's funny, the things we remember. I was with my grandmother at the time, but cannot remember the reason nor the season. I do remember waking up to the smell of a fresh cup of coffee brewing in the kitchen and to the bright, golden sun peaking its head over the mountains off in the distance. I was staying with her at the "White House," or what we call the funeral home she lives in for part of the year. It is a beautiful, white home that sits high on a hill overlooking a little town nestled in the valley below.

I can remember, as a child, meandering carelessly through the wildflowers in my sundress along a stone pathway that led me to a playhouse somewhere on her hillside. I would spend long afternoons there, hiding, and having tea with my dolls. The playhouse was torn down years ago.

Back to my kitchen memory...I don't remember what I was fixing for breakfast when I noticed it there, taped on the wall above the sink. But I do remember thinking that if it was something "kitchen-wall worthy" to grandmother, then it was pretty important and therefore special to me, too.

It was words from Psalm 148.

8 Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul. 9 Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. 10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground.

I hadn't heard that one before. I read it again, captured by the cadence of the words but more so by David's honest, obedient spirit. I liked it, a lot. I've been carrying that verse close to my heart. It is my prayer when I wake up every morning, my hope for the day that has been given to me and made new by God.

David understood the simple truth that the morning sunrise is God's visible reminder to us of the renewing promise of His Son, the light of the world. It reminds us of His unfailing love, which is constant, boundless, bottomless, and all we need. And just like morning, it is made new everyday. I thank God that I serve a God who does not base my love on how I love Him. I am grateful for a God whose love does not fail even though mine does, time after time.

David's passivity in "letting" the morning bring him word of God's unfailing love is a lesson in itself. "Let" is a gentle command to allow ourselves to be mindful of, welcome and experience what is already around us or what is to come. In this case, it is the morning and its promise. If we "let" ourselves be conscious of the meaning of the morning, then we will find ourselves bearers of His heart. He asks us to not only let ourselves be loved (after all, we are His beloved), but also to trust in His love.

The paralleled syntax of the next sentence conveys a similar message. "Show" implies a blindness we possess as humans and therefore a need for God's direction. If we lift up our soul to Him and hide ourselves in Him, then He becomes our leader and we are guided by His good spirit. Only this way will He rescue us along the journey, order our steps, and do His will for our lives.

It is a beautiful day. Take a moment to notice the Son-shine.

-Rachel