epic

I went on a journey once it was a backpacking journey in which I hiked 63 miles in 6 days. Yet, in reality, the journey also included the almost 500 hundred miles we drove in our cars and a sea plane ride of almost 40 minutes just to get to Isle Royale. But we couldn’t exclude from the journey the long ride home after another plane ride. Also, I spent about six months getting into shape for this trip as well. Lifting weights and walking, planning. If I thought about the previous years that I gained experience, gathered equipment and grew in desire for such an adventure. And back even further in my life, somewhere a seedling was planted that grew a desire to spend time outside. All of that time too was part of the quest.

If you would consider for a few moments with me, I would like to propose that the whole of your life so far has been a journey of moments that build upon past experiences that brings you to this very time in your life. People, places, time, all have intertwined to create your reality. You didn’t start your journey someone else did. You had no say in its creation. Beautiful or tragic, happy or miserable, everyone conceived makes a journey. Some for a few seconds, some for a hundred years. We have different start times. We have different ending places. We live in different locations around the globe. Yet we all journey through this life. Why is this concept so crucial to get a hold of? I do believe, more and more, that none of the days that we encounter, or live through, is a waste. They all have impacted us somehow on this journey.

Furthermore if I consider throughout this journey an intertwined spiritual reality, that I come to a place where I believe that the One who started my life, has a purpose for it, a reason for me being, rather than a collection of random molecules, that spiritual journey started somewhere as well.

The Bible says that this work of spiritual awakening is the job of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is God at work in the world, on the people of the world, through the people of the world, everyday. Everyday the Holy Spirit guides people’s lives by tugging on hearts, providing opportunities, and life situations on an individual, personal level throughout the world, through out time. Molding people like a river forms the riverbanks sometimes with a trickle, or drought, and other times with a roar. I happened to have been given early exposure to Jesus through the Holy Spirit which led me to other experiences that chiseled some of the places that needed to be moved. I have plotted against God working in my life, which God knew that I would. I have spent time cooperating with the things God desires for me and have walked way too many miles in circles, refusing to learn in this gift of time.

I am not worried that there are people around me in my life today that could give a crap about what I am saying, that could care less about God. On one level I am ok with that. I guess that I am learning to be O.K. with that primarily because I am not responsible for your journey with God. I am but one little, barely remember able speck in your life’s trek.

I am less at ease with the idea that you many don’t care because they cannot see the big picture. I’ve been down the road a while longer than many of you and I want more for you than I had. I want to help you awaken to God’s reality sooner in your life. It’s like your floating headfirst down the river where around the bend in your life are some rough waters, some falls and rapids that will test you beyond what you can bear on your own.

You are on an epic journey called life. Enter the journey and awaken to the possibilities today!