Help for the Journey
5. March 2008 by BruceSmith.
Help for the Journey
In my undergraduate program in biblical studies I took a class on the sufferings of Christ. One of the central themes of that class was a close look at Jesus’ time in the wilderness. For a multiplicity of reasons, I suppose, I regularly come back to my memory and notes of that class in order to find some perspective on my own journey. There have been some highs, and there have been some great moments, probably more than I realize at this moment in time. The trouble is, the desert wandering tours seem to occupy too much of my life expedition (at least emotionally, psychologically, and mentally if not in reality).
At present, and often, I find myself wrestling with the “wilderness” experience. Intellectually I recognize that the tough times “make the man”, and that the victories are “sweeter” because of the struggle, yada yada yada. But there are times when the wilderness seems so vast and the terrain so rocky that one wonders if there is a way out. Will the journey end on a high note or will I be left along some rocky cliff, too tired to pick myself up one more time, malnutritioned, dehydrated, and without any covering? In my helplessness and amidst my lack of survival skills am I doomed to wait upon some hoped for rescue party? If you are anything like me, I suspect you may ask similar questions. Perhaps, like me, you find yourself asking along with the Psalmist, “Where does my help come from?”
In recent days there have been a number of great writers who have wrestled, in literary fashion, with the human experience of wandering, and wondering. At one point or another, most of us, the great majority of us, no matter how worldly or accomplished we may be, come to a point of wondering about this journey we call life. Is there more to it than what we see in front of us? Is there anything, anyone beyond us? Are we alone? Is there a bigger story? These are the questions which come to mind quite acutely when we find ourselves in the wilderness of life.
Bruce Feiler, in his book, Walking the Bible, tells of coming to a place in life where he just had to make the journey to the land of the bible in order to get a sense of the impact and importance of the biblical narrative. As he tells it, somehow, walking where the biblical story unfolded, grounds one in the force of the narrative. Such a pilgrimage forces one to consider the scope and reality of the biblical epic. Similarly, A.J. Jacobs book, The Year of Living Biblically, is an account of a secular man who determines to literally live in accordance with all biblical laws as closely as possible in modern America on a daily basis for a full year. In so doing, Jacobs is confronted with what it means to consider, deeply, the great questions of faith, and what it really means to lead a life of devotion to biblical truth.
Sometimes our own failures bring us to the brink and cause us to reflect on the nature of our journey. At other times situations around us beyond our control are the mitigating forces which compel us to consider what this journey is all about. And often, it is the wilderness experiences of life, even if unrecognized as such, that cause us to look beyond ourselves to find our direction.
Wherever you are today along the adventure I would urge you consider the answer to the Psalmist’s pilgrimage question. If you are empty, the answer is the same. Lonely? Same answer. Tired? Ditto. Bored? Same answer. Anger, bitter, resentful, confused, numb, isolated, handicapped, beaten down, belittled, broke, addicted, depressed, or otherwise unable to fix your current situation? For each of us, when life presents us with a less than desirable landscape, the question and the answer are consistent.
Where does your help come from? “Your help comes from the Lord”. Psalm 121:1,2
Consider today, with the great writers of the biblical narrative, and along with those who pen compelling adventure stories, that this life was meant to be a journey that leads us somewhere. The destination is the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, where all the drama unfolds. This world of adventure was put here for a reason, and we were designed for a purpose. The exploration, full of majesty and mess, is intended to inspire us toward the One who laid the original map of life.
Today, “Lift your eyes to the hills…your help comes from the Lord.”
He is your compass, your map, your help, and your tour guide. The journey is worth it.
Bruce Smith
Optimuslife.org