It’s been busy, as they say. A season of things happening, some trials and difficult roads, doing Mom Stuff for my kids, less regular days. My schedule isn’t even beside the computer anymore; it must be under a pile or on the floor. I’ll find it. For now, it’s alright.
Fridays for Creating “will resume after these messages”!
I wanted to post a quick update, as this weekend will also be different. We are traveling to a graduation ceremony and there will be much family, celebrating, and memory making. Milestones are interesting, aren’t they? How we pause to mark the end of a time, setting the stone in place so we remember, a boundary between what was and what will be. For thousands of years humans have gathered and celebrated, feasted and danced, honored and clasped hands and hearts together. We applaud, hug, take photos, write cards and give gifts, cheering on the graduate as they mark the end of an academic journey. And that is a beautiful thing to do.
I’ve been thinking about roads. Sometimes the traveling is arduous, and all we can deal with is the hot, muddy trail, humid and buzzing with flies, or a particular hill that never seems to end, and our eyes and legs are tired. Lately I’ve had the privilege of studying the book of James in the Bible with a group of women.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Following this second verse in the book, the author shares different kinds of trials and temptations, gradually illuminating in a kind of circular pattern how these result in endurance. That is, if we not only hear, not only understand, but actually do.
Endurance is hard to relate to at the beginning. The trial in front of us is all-consuming! How to even get around this corner, let alone all the way to the end of the road! Exasperated, we wail and gasp, moan and cry – for good reason. What James is asking us to do is stand and look down the long road, considering the true joy that comes from wisdom and perseverance.
And even though I have walked many miles and passed several milestones, I still wail and wring my hands at the sky fairly often. Will I get through this? Or will someone I love? That’s when I need to stop, pause, and look back through the bleak rain to the long winding road behind me and remember all the times He carried us. Remember impossible corners, washed out bridges and sharp, stony climbs, and the prayers and friends who carried us when it felt like we couldn’t go on. Because we did go on, and so the long road ahead is also going to be lined with the same beauty and grace. There are so many incredible sights to behold, especially when I look far ahead, so far that the road disappears. I wonder where it goes? Will I have the strength to make it to the end?
There are answers to these questions, and the answers give me great hope.
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
James 5:8
Friend, I hope whatever is wrestling with you on the trail will be overcome. I pray that deep encouragement sustains you, knowing that you have come so far and there is joy ahead and hope for the here and now. Look, look down the long road, see how the trees line the path, and the river flows wide, how the grasses wave on the hills and new flowers dance in the meadow. You’ll get there, and to all the lovely woods and creeks in between, and forget how hard life feels right now. It will be a memory.
“Remember when…?” Ah, yes. Yes I do. That was a hard time. But we got through it, didn’t we? I suppose we did. I can’t even remember exactly how, but here we are. And somehow, knowing life changes and hard times don’t last brings a sense of peace. Where endurance and wisdom meet, there is joy. Oh, it might not be a jumping up and down joy, more the smiling-through-tears kind, while you wave hello or goodbye to a friend who has blessed your life for real.
I found my schedule, just so you know. I wrote a basic plan for next week, through what will actually happen then…? Your guess is as good as mine. I do know the days will pass, and whatever they bring will mark the time, and then “like a mist that appears for a little and then vanishes” will be gone.
Stories for Humans 