Category Archives: Life’s disappointments

Journeying Mercy

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Traveling with young children isn’t for the faint of heart. Parents have to plan ahead as much for a road trip with little ones as for the vacation destination itself, and that includes providing something for them to do hour after hour. We might call this journeying mercy, because fussy children can make for miserable miles.

Nate and I took our kids on countless road trips, all crammed into a station wagon. I recall one memorable journey during which we had the back seats folded flat, suitcases spread evenly like giant bricks that raised the floor, and children lying atop the luggage like sausages lined up in a fry pan. It was the only way to fit everyone in. Nowadays we’d be stopped and our children would be taken away as wards of the state.

But we always looked at the road trip as part of the vacation, even if it was 1500 miles long.

That is, unless we had a baby on board.

I remember one trip in particular when one of our toddlers tried to literally chew her way through her car-seat strap in an effort to set herself free, screaming between every chew.

I also recall being desperate to stop one of our 3 month olds from crying, buying her a Dairy Queen cone and feeding it to her in tiny bites, her first food other than breast milk. It worked beautifully, at least for a few miles.

Tonight Linnea, Adam, and their 3 little ones arrived in our driveway after two days on the road, just in time for a pot roast dinner. They were grateful to end their long journey, because little Autumn, 9 months old, had been a traveling challenge all the way. Skylar and Micah, ages 4 and 2, had a general understanding that Grandma Midgee’s house was far, far away and it would take many hours to get there.

But Autumn? She couldn’t understand and lost patience in a hurry, letting everyone know she wasn’t happy with the length of the trip.

She acted much like I sometimes do when traveling with the Lord through days and weeks of time. If I don’t know how much longer the project or trial will last, I cry out to him in a mix of frustration and irritation. “Are we there yet?”

When he says no, it’s, “Waaa! How much longer do I have to endure this!”

But as Adam drove across the country from Florida to Michigan, he had his mind on a clear destination, and each mile brought his family closer to the goal. God has a clear destination in mind for me, too, even though I might not know what it is on any given day. It pleases him if I stop whining and accept the peace he offers as we move along. When I remain calm, trusting he’ll eventually put me down in a place that’s good, he’ll provide journeying mercy, all along the way.

“A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?” (Proverbs 20:24)

Togetherness

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There’s something about shopping for a Christmas tree that appeals to all ages, and today two cars-full of family headed for the local market to choose just the right one. Our goal was “less than 8 feet and under $50,” and thanks to Klaus’ magic coupon, we came in under budget.

Young children have a unique take on family traditions. The netting of the tree for car-top travel was as much fun for them as choosing which tree to take home. So was the sawing off of its end, the trimming away of bottom branches, and the filling of the tree stand via glasses full of water.

But as much fun as they have, whether hanging ornaments or sweeping up pine needles, I think beneath it all what they really love is the togetherness that comes along with the traditions. Children have a sense of who belongs to their inner circle, and their natural yearning for family seems to be deeply satisfied when the group comes together, whether it’s for work, play, a meal, a conversation, or setting up a Christmas tree.

Maybe that’s true for adults, too, but what happens when we aren’t living near those we love or don’t have successful family relationships? Are we doomed to loneliness and dissatisfaction, especially at the holidays?

Just when it starts to look that way, God steps forward with an offer. Through Scripture verses he says,

“Would you like to spend the holidays with me? I sure do want to be with you, to strengthen you through troubles and be an overall help to you. You can tell me anything you want, pouring out all the details, and I’ll listen intently with love. Lay out your disappointments and frustrations, and we’ll sort through them together.

I want to be like both a father and mother to you, like a sister and brother. I want to be the head of your family. If you don’t have an earthly home, I’ll find one for you, and as we fellowship there together, you can get as familiar as you want with me. The closer the better, in my opinion. And by the way, my loving responses to your yearnings will be perfectly suited to each need.

I hope that as you take advantage of what I’m offering, that you won’t be sad, but if you are, I want to carry your sorrows for you. Eventually I hope you’ll invite me into your head to lead your thinking by my Spirit, since I’d like to take you to an emotional place of peace. And if you invite me into your heart, I will preserve your soul. You are my very own family, and I want to be close to you, not just on holidays but every single day.”

Each of these promises is taken directly from the Bible, and as you enjoy taking God up on his offer, how about doing it in the warm glow of a Christmas tree?

 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

 

Where the Action Is

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All of us who grew up in Sunday school have our favorite Bible stories. Since I’ve always loved the beach, especially on wavy days, one of mine is about Jesus (and Peter) walking on water. Which of us, as children, didn’t try it ourselves? Maybe that’s what made us want to be friends with Jesus. Anybody who could do that kind of thing would be a great friend to have!

I’ve read that story hundreds of times but the other day saw two “new” things. The narrative tells us that the 12 disciples were obeying Jesus when they all got in a boat at night and pushed off into the Sea of Galilee without him. He’d just fed the 5000 and needed some alone-time with his Father. Glad to see them go, he quickly found a “desolate” spot to pray.

But after a while, ever mindful of these 12 men, he looked out over the water and saw them struggling to navigate the 6 miles from one coast to the other. The Bible says this occurred a little after 3:00 am, when the disciples were about half way there.

Rowing into head winds, they weren’t making much progress as waves washed over them and into their boat. Jesus terminated his prayer time and headed out to calm things down. Did he instantly go from land to mid-sea? Did he walk up and down on the waves as if they were sand dunes? Did he move through them without getting wet? Scripture doesn’t say.

But the fact that was “new” to me about Jesus walking on the water was what Mark wrote: “Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them.” (6:48)

He meant to pass by them? Really? That’s what it says.

Why would that be? Was he planning to circle their boat? Or maybe calm the waves on his way past? Or get ahead of them to urge them toward him? Or maybe pull the boat to shore?

We’re given no answers to any of these questions, but there’s more. John wrote the other something that was “new” to me. After Jesus finally climbed into the boat John says, “Immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.” (6:21)

Immediately?

As I read through the story, it occurred to me there was a fairly long list of miracles that occurred that night.

  • Jesus arriving on the stormy scene suddenly.
  • Then his walking on wild water.
  • Peter walking on water.
  • Jesus calming the waves and winds.
  • Instantaneous transport of the boat and its passengers to the opposite shore.
  • Earlier that day the feeding of 5000+ people from practically nothing.
  • And as they miraculously arrived on shore, they saw him heal scores of people who simply touched his hemline.

It seems that Jesus was continually the centerpiece of miracles and wonders, day and night, no matter where he went. Reading the accounts in Scripture is always stimulating, despite ending up with more questions than answers, but there’s one thing I know for sure. Wherever Jesus was, that’s where the action was.

And it’s still true today.

“Jesus said to them, ‘It is I; do not be afraid.’” (John 6:20)